CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Disadvantaged Young People

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if she will contribute to the partnership of the Prince's Trust Football Initiative, FA Premier League, Football Foundation and Professional Footballers Association in helping disadvantaged young people; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessments she has made of the contribution made by the Prince's Trust Football Initiative to tackling social exclusion of young people.

Richard Caborn: The Government fully support the aims of the Prince's Trust Football Scheme, which uses sport to offer personal development programmes to young people aged 16–25, the majority of whom are unemployed, have recently left social service care, or are ex-offenders. It is noteworthy that of 4,000 participants between 1997 and 2002, some 73 per cent. went on to find employment, or to further education or training.
	The Scheme receives £250,000 a year from the Football Foundation's Community and Education Fund, which is part-funded by Sport England and the New Opportunities Fund.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Devon (Ward Boundaries)

Nick Harvey: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what progress the Electoral Commission is making towards making orders giving effect to the Boundary Committee's recommendations for Devon county council's ward boundaries; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Viggers: I understand that it is the intention of the Electoral Commission to make the order implementing new ward boundaries by summer 2004 so that they will be in effect for the county elections due in 2005.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Big Conversation

Norman Baker: To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) of 9 December 2003, Official Report, column 355W, what estimate he has made of the amount of time spent by (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers on the Big Conversation; and what costs are associated with that time.

Peter Hain: The involvement of Ministers and special advisers in this exercise is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. It is not possible to provide an estimate of their time spent on the exercise but the cost will be minimal.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Health

Ian Cawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made in implementing the Animal Health (Amendment) Act 1998.

Ben Bradshaw: The Animal Health (Amendment) Act 1998 extended the scope of the Order-making powers relating to importation in the Animal Health Act 1981 to cover the welfare of animals in quarantine. Between December 2000 and March 2001, MAFF undertook a consultation exercise on proposals for legislation to update the law on quarantine by reforming the quarantine rules to bring quarantine kennels up to the best modern practice and by introducing statutory welfare provisions.
	Owing to the impact on resources of the foot and mouth disease outbreak during 2001, follow-up to that consultation was deferred. Since then, we have reached agreement on the EU Regulation on the movement of pet animals which will require some changes to the quarantine legislation. We are also preparing for consultation on an Animal Welfare Bill. We shall therefore need to review the proposed changes to the quarantine legislation to take account of these and other developments. I expect to complete the review in the first part of 2004.

Animal Health

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on how she intends to implement the recommendations of the Farm Animal Welfare Council's Report on the Welfare of Farmed Animals at Slaughter or Killing.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 11 December 2003
	I refer my hon. Friend to my earlier answer given on 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 209W. Decisions on how to implement the recommendations will be taken once the public consultation exercise on the draft response has been completed.

Arable Crops

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what sanctions apply to (a) farmers and (b) her Department in circumstances where an incorrect assessment has been made of areas planted for (i) wheat and (ii) other arable crops in the annual (A) June return and (B) IACS system.

Alun Michael: The June census is a UK survey designed to provide information for statistical purposes and to support policy decisions. In England it is carried out under the Agricultural Statistics Act 1979 which requires farmers to provide the information requested. Any mistakes are normally simply corrected and we are not aware of any sanctions ever being applied in such issues. Defra seeks to produce the best estimates it can at particular points in the year. By the nature of the information, some figures will be provisional and subject to revision. The Department will republish if a mistake that significantly affects the results is found.
	The IACS rules are part of the EU legislation governing the operation of the Common Agricultural Policy. In respect of arable area payments, they treat wheat and other arable crops in the same way. Where farmers claim arable area payments for less than their planted area there is no sanction. Where they overclaim by a small margin the claim is merely corrected. For larger overclaims the IACS system prescribes a scale of sanctions, which at the extreme can lead to the loss of all payment for the current year and to an equivalent sum being recovered from the claims made over the following three years. No automatic sanctions apply to Defra in such cases, but the European Commission has power to apply ad hoc financial penalties to member states who are found not to have sufficiently robust systems for inspecting claims and applying the prescribed sanctions.

Biopesticides

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to speed up approvals for biopesticides.

Alun Michael: The Government are trying to find ways of speeding up the approval process for biopesticides. The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) is carrying out a pilot exercise exploring ways of reducing data requirements and thus the costs and time taken to secure approval.
	PSD has also appointed an "in-house" Small Business Champion to assist companies generally and specifically in making applications for approval of biological control agents.
	However, PSD must ensure that approved pesticides cause no unacceptable risks to people or the environment. There are, therefore, certain essential data requirements that must be met, regardless of whether an application for a pesticide is for a conventional or an alternative product, such as a biopesticide.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether farmers are able to obtain insurance cover for TB infection in dairy cattle after a TB breakdown and subsequent claim.

Ben Bradshaw: It is Government policy to pay compensation at 100 per cent. of the market value, with no upper limit, for cattle that are compulsorily slaughtered under TB control measures. Farmers therefore do not need to take out insurance for their animals. Theoretically, insurance can be bought to cover other consequential losses for which compensation is not paid, but this is a commercial matter between the farmers and their insurers. Section 34 (5) of the Animal Health Act 1981 explicitly allows insurers to deduct the amount of Government compensation from the value of any payout that they make.
	Insurance companies will make their own decisions on whether to insure, and about the size of premiums, based on their assessment of the risk. Recent contact with insurance industry early in 2003 indicated that, although companies are honouring existing policies, they are not offering new policies to cover TB in cattle herds, particularly in areas where TB is increasingly prevalent. This is because farmers do not wish to take the cover in areas where the risk is low (such as Yorkshire), but do wish to purchase cover in areas of high incidence (such as the South West). However, the insurance companies consider that the financial risks in offering insurance policies in areas of high incidence are too high at present.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost was of compensation paid to farmers in respect of compulsory purchase of bovine animals slaughtered as a result of TB infection (a) between 1994 and 1998 and (b) since 1998.

Ben Bradshaw: The data requested are provided in the tables.
	
		Cost of compensation paid in Great Britain as a result of TB infection between 1994 and 1998
		
			  Cost (£)(1) 
		
		
			 1994 2,019,911 
			 1995 1,988,820 
			 1996 2,275,481 
			 1997 2,386,029 
			 1998 3,605,242 
			 Total 12,275,483 
		
	
	Source:
	(1) The Report of the Chief Veterinary Officer—Animal Health 1998.
	
		Cost of compensation paid in Great Britain as a result of TB infection between 1999 and 2002
		
			  Cost (£)(2) 
		
		
			 1999 5,770,983 
			 2000 7,307,797 
			 2001 7,074,125 
			 2002 (3)23, 138,512 
			 Total 43,291,417 
		
	
	Sources:
	(2) The Report of the Chief Veterinary Officer—Animal Health 2002.
	(3) In 2001, the TB testing and control programme was largely suspended due to the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak. Since testing resumed in 2002, resources have been concentrated on herds with overdue TB tests that would have had a longer period in which to contract the disease. Also, the proportion of high risk herds being tested post-FMD is greater than that prior to the outbreak. As a result, the number of TB reactors identified and slaughtered (and hence compensated for) in 2002 is not comparable to those identified and slaughtered in previous years.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of shortages of large animal vets for successful control of TB in cattle.

Ben Bradshaw: There are no plans to carry out such an assessment. However, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee issued a report on Vets and Veterinary Services on 23 October 2003 (HC 703), which considers wider concerns about the numbers of large animal practices and the contribution of the veterinary profession to the wider animal health and welfare strategy.
	The report contains a number of recommendations and conclusions, and we will be seeking the views of the veterinary profession and other interested parties on the issues raised.

Badgers

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of whether badgers are capable of accessing mineral and feed troughs positioned at heights in excess of those advised by the Department; and what height that evidence indicates badgers are capable of accessing.

Ben Bradshaw: Recent work carried out by the Central Science Laboratory has established that badgers are capable of climbing into feed troughs set at 115cm above ground level, at which height they are inaccessible to cattle.

Dead Animals

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect of the provisions in the Hunting Bill of Session 2002–03 on disposal by farmers of dead animals.

Alun Michael: The Animal By-Products Regulations 2003 permit hunt kennels to continue collecting fallen stock; however, they will be required to upgrade to knackers' yard standards if they wish to collect fallen stock for the purposes of feeding to hounds. The effect of a ban on hunting would depend on decisions made by those who currently offer a service and on choices made by farmers leading to take-up of the National Fallen Stock Scheme which the Government hope will be up and running early in 2004. Most hunts already make a charge and there is no reason why such a service should not continue as a business opportunity irrespective of the future of hunting.

Regional Producers (Wiltshire) Ltd.

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much public money has been paid to Regional Producers (Wiltshire) Ltd; and who the payees were.

Alun Michael: Regional Producers (Wiltshire) Ltd. have received grants worth £57,784 from public sector bodies. This comprised £20,000 from Business Link for Berkshire and Wiltshire from the South West Foot and Mouth Recovery Fund which they administered on behalf of the South West Regional Development Agency, and the balance from Great Western Enterprise, which is also funded by the South West Regional Development Agency.

Regional Producers (Wiltshire) Ltd.

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers were participants in Regional Producers (Wiltshire) Ltd.; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The conditions for providing public funding for Regional Producers (Wiltshire) Ltd. required them to secure a minimum of 25 shareholder members and this was achieved.

Regional Waste Plans

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Regional Waste Plan for the South West is expected to be published; and what proposals it will make with regard to the designation of sub-regional zones.

Keith Hill: I have been asked to reply.
	The Regional Waste Strategy for the South West region is being developed by the South West Regional Assembly. Currently it is planned to commence consultation on the strategy in early February 2004 with a view to publishing the completed strategy by July 2004.
	The strategy is still under development and will be using data based on former county areas of the South West as these are currently the best available. These data will be used to develop sub regional indicative capacity allocations based on the former county areas.

Tropical Plywood

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much tropical plywood was imported by each EU member state in the last year for which figures are available.

John Healey: Imports to the UK are given in "Overseas Trade Statistics", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Figures on trade between other countries are not available.

Wind Turbines

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact on wildlife of wind turbines.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	Studies of the impact of wind farms on wildlife, in particular birds, suggests that there is only a small risk of bird strikes from the operation of properly sited wind turbines. In addition, under the normal planning regime and for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 regime or the Transport and Works Act 1992, wind farm developers are required to consider all environmental aspects of wind energy projects and produce an Environmental Impact Assessment. These assessments are available to the public.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Public Services (Ethnicity)

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect of a person's ethnicity on their access to public services.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Government publishes an annual edition of Race Equality in Public Services which brings together key performance management data from across the range of Government Departments. The indicators used consist of three main parts:
	The first looks at comparative perceptions of public services between minority ethnic and majority communities;
	The second part uses performance data to describe the impact of a range of key services on different minority ethnic communities, as compared with the majority community;
	The third looks at what the Government are doing to promote and improve race equality within the Civil Service and related services.
	The fourth annual publication will be published early in 2004.

Animal Experiments

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments on animals were carried out in UK laboratories in 2002–03; what action he is taking to encourage alternative methods of experimentation; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: For the year 2002, the most recent year for which complete annual statistics are available and published, 2,752,278 scientific procedures were carried out on animals in the UK. Mice, rats and other rodents, along with fish and birds, were used in some 96 per cent. of the total.
	The use of animals in regulated procedures is prohibited by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in cases where a scientifically valid non-animal alternative is available. The Act also requires that, where replacement of animals is not possible, the number used in any licensed project must be reduced to the minimum, and the procedures must be refined to ensure that no unnecessary suffering is caused. This approach—of replacing, reducing and refining—is known as application of the 3Rs.
	Most work on the 3Rs is neither done by Government nor with Government money, as industry spends many millions of pounds each year on the search for and development of alternatives. Nonetheless, every year the Home Office makes available to the Animal Procedures Committee a budget for research aimed at developing or promoting the use of the 3Rs. Details of completed research projects are published in the annual report of the Animal Procedures Committee, which is available from The Stationery Office. The amount made available to the Committee for 2003–04 for this specific purpose is £280,000.
	This is not the only money spent by the Government on the development of the 3Rs, as other Departments and public funding bodies are also active in this area. Indeed, it is estimated that the total spent across Government is in the region of £2 million to £10 million each year.
	To take this further on an international level, we continue to support the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) through contributions to the European Union, and last year we co-sponsored the 4th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences.
	The Government support and encourage the development and promotion of the 3Rs in a number of other ways. For example, we are currently exploring the recommendation by the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals in Scientific Procedures, which reported in July 2002, that there should be a United Kingdom centre for research into the 3Rs. This is being considered by the Inter-Departmental Group on the 3Rs, led by the Home Office.
	The Inter-Departmental Group is also reviewing the effectiveness of the Inter-Departmental Data Sharing Concordat announced in August 2000, which commits United Kingdom regulatory authorities to help resolve legal and other obstacles to data sharing between clients, in order to reduce animal testing.
	In the longer term, we believe that further significant reduction in animal use will, and must, continue to rely largely on the scientific community's own efforts to develop, validate and adopt more advanced methods based on the 3Rs. This is not an area where quick gains can be expected, but any lack of progress in research into alternatives is more often due to the limitations of science, rather than to inadequate funding.

Correspondence

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to respond to the letter of 23 July, from the hon. Member for Moray, with Home Office acknowledgement reference number PO11706/3; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: I am sorry for the delay in replying to the hon. Member's letter of 23 July 2003.
	Regrettably, this matter was originally submitted to the wrong unit who did not follow the matter up.
	We are in the process of appointing an independent appraiser to review Mr. Christie's case. I have instructed IND officials to have the report completed by Christmas and I will then be in a position to write to the hon. Member.

Criminal Justice System

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the responses to the British Crime Survey questions on public confidence in the criminal justice system, broken down by criminal justice board area.

Paul Goggins: The responses to the British Crime Survey (BCS) questions on confidence in the criminal justice system from the 2001–02 BCS were published in the Crime in England and Wales 2001–02: Supplementary Volume in January 2003. Chapter 8 contains the information about confidence, and table 8.04 contains the figures broken down by Local Criminal Justice Board area.
	The equivalent data for 2002–03 are due to be published in January by the Research, Development and Statistics Directorate at the Home Office in the upcoming supplementary volume to the 2002–03 British Crime Survey. The final title for this publication is still being decided.
	In the meantime the confidence data for 2002–03 were made available to Local Criminal Justice Boards in July 2003 in the guidance document "Improving Public Satisfaction and Confidence in the Criminal Justice System". The document is available on the CJS website at: www.cjsonline.org.

Foreign Seafarers

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedure there is for verifying that there are no qualified or experienced workers available when work permits are issued to foreign seafarers.

Beverley Hughes: The usual requirement is that the employer must demonstrate that they have been unable to fill the vacancy with a suitably qualified worker from the resident labour force. Employers will normally be required to provide evidence that they have advertised the post in an appropriate medium and the grounds on which they considered resident workers who applied for the post to be unsuitable. These requirements are waived only in respect of intra-corporate transfers, board level posts, inward investment posts and those occupations where Work Permits (UK) has established, on the basis of independent labour market information, that there is an acute shortage of suitably qualified resident workers. The latter do not include seafarers.

Immigration Control

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK immigration officers are in post working at (a) French ports, (b) Belgian ports and (c) other European ports on matters concerning immigration control.

Beverley Hughes: No UK immigration officers are in post in French ports but officers are currently deployed to French ports on a daily basis. There are 200 officers across three operational grades who are based in Cheriton near Folkestone and who are liable to work in the UK control zone at the Eurotunnel site in Coquelles where the UK Immigration Service provides 24-hour coverage.
	There are 125 officers across three operational grades based at Waterloo International who perform duties in Lille Europe, Paris Gare du Nord, where the UK Immigration service covers all UK-bound Eurostar services. Officers based at Waterloo also assist the Belgian Immigration authorities in an advisory capacity at the Gare du Midi in Brussels.

Immigration Control

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many potential illegal entrants to this country have been discovered at French ports in the last 12 months; and what steps have been taken against them.

Beverley Hughes: The French authorities do not publish figures of illegal immigrants discovered at Channel ports.
	French policy is to remove illegal immigrants discovered in the Calais area, and take them to other parts of France to be processed where possible, thus disrupting contact with illegal networks. French police continue to arrest and imprison facilitators.
	In addition, the UK and France have together taken vigorous action to combat illegal immigration to the UK following the closure of the Red Cross centre at Sangatte. Initiatives include the deployment of high-tech freight searching equipment to Calais, and British immigration officers working in an advisory capacity alongside the French Police aux Frontieres (PAF) at the port of Calais. Plans are under way to allow British immigration officers to exercise their full control powers at the ports of Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne, as they already do at the Channel Tunnel. PAF officers will similarly be able to operate their controls at Dover.
	Indicative management information suggests that the wide range of measures now in place in Calais and Coquelles has resulted in over 6,000 people being prevented from travelling to the UK from these points in the first nine months of this year.

Immigration Control

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many heat detector machines are installed at (a) Dover, (b) Folkestone, (c) Portsmouth, (d) Cheriton and (e) other UK ports.

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration Service does not use heat detector machines however, it does deploy and operate a range of detection technology to detect clandestine entrants.
	Heartbeat detectors and a gamma ray scanner are deployed at Dover. This technology is not employed at Folkestone, Portsmouth, Cheriton or any other UK ports, although x-ray scanners operated by Customs are routinely deployed at UK ports. Additionally, carbon dioxide detectors and body detection dogs, are deployed by the UK immigration service on an intelligence led basis by mobile teams operating at various UK ports in line with current threat levels in support of local immigration freight searching activity.

Immigration Control

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last 12 months heat detector machines at (a) Calais, (b) Coquelles and (c) Dover have broken down or malfunctioned.

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration Service does not employ heat detector machines in the detection of clandestine entrants. However it does deploy and operate a range of detection technologies to detect clandestine entrants including heartbeat detectors, gamma ray scanners, carbon dioxide detectors and Passive Millimetric Wave Imagers (PMMWI), technology that relies on naturally occurring background radiation to produce images indicating human presence in lorries. The equipment receives quarterly maintenance checks to ensure continued effectiveness. During the past 12 months occasional minor technical problems have been encountered. But these have been resolved, either by remote support or by prompt site attendance of an engineer.

Immigration Control

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many heat detector machines are installed at (a) Calais and (b) Coquelles; and what the corresponding figures were in October 2002.

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration Service does not employ heat detector machines in the detection of clandestine entrants. However it does deploy and operate a range of detection technologies to detect clandestine entrants.
	In October 2002 one heartbeat detector was in operation in Calais. There are now three heartbeat units in operation at the port together with two PMMWs (Passive Millimetric Wave Imagers), technology that relies on naturally occurring background radiation to produce images indicating human presence in lorries. This equipment has been loaned by the UK Immigration Service to the Calais port operator and is operated by their staff.
	At Coquelles the Immigration Service operate a heartbeat detector and carbon dioxide detectors within the UK Control Zone. Carbon dioxide detectors have been in operation since before October 2002 while the heartbeat detector has been in operation since May 2003.

Oakington Reception Centre

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what duties there are upon those released from Oakington Reception Centre in each of the last two years to report to the police or other authorities; and how many such persons have breached such duties.

Beverley Hughes: Oakington receives asylum claimants who are entitled to reside in the countries on the fast track suitable list. This list contains the 24 Non-Suspensive Appeal (NSA) designated countries and others which are believed to be suitable for a rapid decision-making process.
	The outcome of claims from those on the NSA designated list will normally be removal if they have been served with a clearly unfounded certified decision to refuse asylum. An appeal may be submitted only from abroad.
	Non-NSA claimants who receive negative decisions may be detained further at a Removal Centre or granted Temporary Admission pending the outcome of any in-country appeal. Over the period referred to in the question, the network of reporting facilities and the number of those leaving Oakington who have been required to report has grown, but any restrictions are dependent upon the circumstances of the individual case.
	The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on Oakington and other asylum statistics is published quarterly. The most recent publication covering the third quarter of 2003 is now available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www. homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1 .html

Projects (St. Helens)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which projects have been (a) wholly and (b) partly funded by his Department in St. Helens since 1997; when each project was announced; when it started or was expected to start; what funding was provided by (i) Government and (ii) a third party; what third party provided funding; what the target group of the project was; what the projected outcome of the project was; and what the name of the project was.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is not available for Home Office funding in St. Helens prior to the introduction of the Crime Reduction Programme in 1999. Furthermore files for projects funded before the introduction of the Safer Communities Initiative in 2002–03 are now in the Government Office's registry, and to retrieve them would incur disproportionate costs.
	
		
			 CRP initiative Year Description (location) Funding (£) 
		
		
			 CCTV 2001–02 Priority Wards Mobile System 50,000 
			 CCTV 2001–02 St. Helens Hospital 50,450 
			 CCTV 2002–03 Safer St. Helens 872,000 
			 Reducing Burglary 2002–03 Windlehurst/Dentons Green Area, St. Helens 9,500 
			 Communities Against Drugs 2001–02 Reduce impact on local communities of drugs 171,000 
			 Small Retailers in Deprived Area Year 1 2001–02 CCTV in Finger Post Shopping Centre 18,509 
			 Targeted Policing 2002–03 Merseyside Police—St. Helens—Vehicle crime 397,000 
			 Safer Communities Initiative 2002–03 — 66,646 
			 Communities Against Drugs 2002–03 £171,100 plus £165,135 Street Crime Uplift 336,235 
			 Partnership Development Fund 2002–03 — 20,000 
			 Small Retailers in Deprived Areas Year 2 2002–03 Junction Line, Elephant Line, Toll bar and Cambridge Road precincts 26,599 
			 Building Safer Communities Fund 2003–04 — 244,982 
			 HO Regional Directors Fund 2003–04 — 12,764 
			 Basic Command Unit 2003–04 — 162,734 
			 Communities Against Drugs carry forward 2003–04 £42,250(4) 42,250 
			 Domestic Violence 2003–04 — 3,600 
		
	
	(4) Paid in 2002–03 but to be defrayed in 2003–04

Sentencing

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were jailed in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 under section 111 of the provisions of the Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000, for a third offence of burglary.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 3 December 2003
	Six people were sentenced under section 111 of the Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (previously section 4 of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997) in England and Wales for a third offence of burglary in 2001 and two in 2002.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Private Member's Clubs

David Stewart: To ask the Minister for Women 
	(1)  what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated since July 2002 to identify private members' sports clubs which are voluntarily removing rules which lead to different gender playing practices;
	(2)  what percentage of private members' clubs deny women members equality of membership rights.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 9 December 2003
	There has been no formal assessment of sex discriminatory practices in private members' sports clubs.
	Sex discriminatory treatment in private clubs is contrary to this Government's principles of opportunity for all. We have in the past consulted informally with interested parties about their progress in reducing such discrimination by voluntary means. We are keeping this matter under review.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Arms Exports

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many surface to air missiles have been (a) exported and (b) transferred in each of the last 10 years; and to which countries.

Nigel Griffiths: The DTI holds information on licences issued but not on those not used.
	The details of all export licences are published by destination in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls.

British Energy

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to increase the current £200 million loan facility to British Energy; and when she expects to take a final decision on the future of the company.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 11 December 2003
	I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 1 December 2003, Official Report, columns 50 and 51WS.
	British Energy's proposed restructuring will not be implemented until all conditions, including receipt of European Commission State Aid approval, are met. The company has put a back-stop date of 31 January 2005 for the restructuring to be completed, although it is expected to be implemented before then.
	If the Government are not satisfied that British Energy will be viable in all reasonable foreseeable conditions, or if there is a material adverse change in British Energy's position, the Government have reserved the right to withdraw its support for the restructuring. The Government remain ready for administration if any of the restructuring conditions are not met.

Business Investment

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what she attributes the change in the 2003 business investment forecast between Budget 2002 and Budget 2003.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The reasons for the change in business investment forecasts between Budget 2002 and Budget 2003 are clearly set out in Chapter B of the Budget 2003 document (HC500).

Civil Partnership Bill

George Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the provisions of the Civil Partnership Bill apply to Scotland.

Jacqui Smith: The Scottish Executive has stated its preference for the Scottish Parliament to be invited to agree that provisions are included in the Civil Partnership Bill to establish a status of civil partnership in Scotland. The Scottish Executive is currently consulting on its Civil Partnership proposals and a final decision on the preferred legislative route will be made when the consultation has concluded. Including Scottish provisions within a UK Bill will be subject to the agreement of the Scottish Parliament.
	The Government are prepared to include such Scottish provisions in its Bill on this basis.
	The Bill will also make amendments to legislation which is reserved to Westminster and extends to Scotland.

Directors (Pay)

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has conducted into the pay gap between male and female directors.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department has not conducted any specific research into the pay gap between male and female directors, however we do know that increases in the pay gap for very high earners drove the increase in the mean full-time pay gap figure last year.
	As a consequence we provided a financial contribution towards the recent research 'The Female FTSE Report 2003' which showed that the number of female directorships currently stands at 101, up by 20 per cent. on last year. We also have a programme of work intended to encourage diversity in the boardroom.

East Midlands Development Agency

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the annual advertising budget of the East Midland's Development Agency was in financial year 2002–03.

Jacqui Smith: East Midland's Development Agency's advertising costs for 2002–03 were £104,000.

Electricity Supply

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what powers she has to prevent a cut in electricity supply due to severe winter weather.

Stephen Timms: The market has responded to concerns about a possible shortfall by returning plant to service so that margins are at a similar level to the mid 1990's. However no system can be guaranteed and in the event of a possible power shortage there are a number of steps that NGT could take in order to maintain supplies and avoid rota cuts.
	The Government have robust, and well rehearsed plans, for dealing with extreme circumstances that cannot be dealt with by NGT's normal operating arrangements.

Fair Trade Products

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is the policy of her Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors.

Patricia Hewitt: Departmental policy is to promote the use of fair trade products. However, this is set against the background of the need to obtain best value for money, the EC procurement rules and the Department's objectives. Within these guidelines the Depatment is committed to supporting ethical trading wherever possible.
	Within our main headquarters buildings, fair trade tea and coffee are as a matter of course (a) sold in the Departmental Staff Restaurants and (b) used for receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors.

Financial Advisers

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the development of an international kitemark for financial advisers by the International Standards Organisation.

Patricia Hewitt: The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is developing voluntary standards in the field of personal financial planning. The aim of the standards is to provide an international benchmark for financial planners to work towards and to increase recognition of the financial planning process to ultimately benefit the consumer. The UK member of ISO is the British Standards Institution (BSI) which is independent of Government. The current draft standards are available from BSI for public comment until 4 January 2004.

Financial Journalism

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her assessment of the probable consequences of the proposed EU legislation regarding investment services for financial journalism.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	Article 6 (5) of the EU's Market Abuse Directive requires member states to adopt appropriate regulation governing the production and dissemination of investment recommendations. The regulation has to ensure that those making investment recommendations or disseminating such recommendations take reasonable care to present the information fairly and disclose any interests or conflicts of interest they have relating to the relevant financial instruments. Recital 22 to the Market Abuse Directive indicates that appropriate regulation in relation to Article 6 (5) can include appropriate mechanisms for self regulation. The technical arrangements for compliance with Article 6 (5) were set out in an implementing measure agreed by the European Securities Committee on 29 October.
	The Treasury will issue a consultation document next year on proposals to transpose the Market Abuse Directive and its implementing measures into UK legislation. At this stage it is expected that the consultation document will outline proposals that journalists either producing or disseminating investment recommendations will be subject to self-regulatory mechanisms. This approach should enable traditional media freedoms in the UK to be maintained while supporting market integrity.

Food Supplements

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the EU meetings held in 2003 which (a) Ministers and (b) officials from the Department have attended where the maximum permitted level of nutrients in food supplements was discussed; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Parliamentary Under-secretary of State for Health on 3 December 2003, Official Report, columns 76–77.

Internet

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will estimate the number of people over 60 years of age who are connected to the internet.

Stephen Timms: According to the July 2003 ONS Omnibus Survey, 22 per cent. of people over the age of 60, an estimated 2.7 million, use the internet.

ISO 9001:2000

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how she will ensure that more than the estimated 20 per cent. of United Kingdom companies comply with ISO 9001:2000 before 15 December.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department does not collect information on companies certified to the ISO 9000 standards. However figures produced by the International Standards Organisation indicate that, in December 2002, there were 60,960 ISO 9000 certifications in the UK. Companies have had three years notice that the transition period for the migration of accredited certification, from the 1994 editions of the standard to ISO 9001:2000, would end on 14 December 2003. My Department has provided information about the new edition on its website. From the information my officials have received from representatives of certification bodies, about 90 per cent. of their UK customers are expected to make the transition successfully by the due date.

Job Creation

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs her Department (a) created and (b) safeguarded in each year since 1997, broken down by (i) local authority region and (ii) region; and what the cost per job was in each instance.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the Department's principal scheme (Regional Selective Assistance) for job creation and safeguarding is given as follows, by region. Similar information by local authority region is not available.
	
		Regional Selective Assistance—offers accepted
		
			  Expected jobs 
			 Region New Safeguarded Average cost per job (£) 
		
		
			 1997–98
			 East 203 15 2,092 
			 East Midlands 1,782 843 3,138 
			 London 899 275 2,421 
			 North East 4,859 1,000 3,073 
			 North West 6,587 9,374 4,945 
			 South East 1,694 75 3,098 
			 South West 1,549 222 3,623 
			 West Midlands 2,445 2,777 6,576 
			 York./Humb. 3,340 1,228 2,895 
			 England 23,358 15,809 4,287 
			 
			 1998–99
			 East 287 17 2,174 
			 East Midlands 1,386 321 4,138 
			 London 381 169 2,216 
			 North East 4,491 1,225 4,444 
			 North West 4,775 3,066 3,515 
			 South East 845 79 5,222 
			 South West 1,130 1,496 5,284 
			 West Midlands 2,283 1,701 8,475 
			 York./Humb. 2,806 1,380 3,310 
			 England 18,384 9,454 4,606 
			 
			 1999–2000
			 East 403 59 2,924 
			 East Midlands 1,151 1,498 3,052 
			 London 353 185 2,299 
			 North East 5,271 1,413 4,428 
			 North West 6,242 4,124 2,925 
			 South East 954 439 3,251 
			 South West 2,626 641 1,964 
			 West Midlands 3,457 703 3,954 
			 York./Humb. 4,557 1,194 2,291 
			 England 25,014 10,256 3,152 
			 
			 2000–01
			 East 290 221 3,853 
			 East Midlands 1,970 514 4,680 
			 London 182 199 3,010 
			 North East 3,857 4,355 10,528 
			 North West 3,267 2,056 3,753 
			 South East 822 342 2,466 
			 South West 2,893 594 3,214 
			 West Midlands 4,895 1,086 6,865 
			 York./Humb. 3,698 943 6,235 
			 England 21,874 10,310 6,378 
			 
			 2001–02
			 East 255 356 4,705 
			 East Midlands 342 805 4,623 
			 London 719 682 2,827 
			 North East 2,329 1,196 4,691 
			 North West 2,608 2,175 3,364 
			 South East 1,094 214 5,780 
			 South West 628 189 6,674 
			 West Midlands 1,039 618 7,780 
			 York./Humb. 822 643 5,644 
			 England 9,836 6,878 4,723 
			 
			 2002–03
			 East 324 57 3,147 
			 East Midlands 1,665 414 3,515 
			 London 490 108 3,968 
			 North East 1,782 2,054 6,543 
			 North West 2,866 2,704 6,496 
			 South East 316 346 2,689 
			 South West 372 521 6,562 
			 West Midlands 805 1,618 4,229 
			 York./Humb. 1,826 1,588 5,181 
			 England 10,446 9,410 5,426

Joined-up Government

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list (a) joint targets and (b) areas of joint responsibility between her Department and each other Government Department.

Patricia Hewitt: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) Joint Targets
	The Department's Public Service Agreement targets from the 2002 Spending Review include the following joint targets:
	PSA Target 1
	Demonstrate progress by 2006 on the Government's long term objective of raising the rate of UK productivity growth over the economic cycle, improving competitiveness and narrowing the productivity gap with the US, France and Germany. "Joint target with HM Treasury"
	PSA Target 4
	(part) ... improve the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources, including through the use of energy saving technologies, to help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. from 1990 levels and moving towards a 20 per cent. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010. "Joint target with Department for Food and Rural Affairs"
	PSA Target 5
	Secure agreement by 2005 to a significant reduction in trade barriers leading to improved trading opportunities for the UK and developing countries. "Joint target with the Department for International Development and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)"
	PSA Target 7
	Make sustainable improvements in the economic performance of all English regions and over the long term reduce the persistent gap in growth rates between the regions, defining measures to improve performance and reporting progress against these measures by 2006. "Joint target with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and HM Treasury"
	PSA Target 10
	In the three years to 2006, taking account of the economic cycle, increase the employment rate and significantly reduce the difference between the overall employment rate and the employment rate of ethnic minorities. "Joint target with Department for Work and Pensions"
	PSA Target 11
	Deliver a measurable improvement in the business performance of UK Trade & Investment's customers; and maintain the UK as the prime location in the European Union (EU) for foreign direct investment. "Joint target with FCO"
	In addition, "PSA target 10" requires the DTI to work with all departments to bring about measurable improvements in gender equality across a range of indicators.
	(b) Areas of joint responsibility
	The Department has joint working arrangements with a number of government departments across a wide range of its activities. Examples include UK Trade and Investment, a joint DTI/FCO organisation which has as its objective the enhanced competitiveness of companies in the UK through overseas sales and investments and a continuing high level of quality foreign direct investment; the dual support system by which the DTI and DfES provide funding for university research; the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage by the Inland Revenue; and the "business.gov" programme, through which the Small Business Service, a DTI agency, is working with departments and organisations such as Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise and the Health and Safety Executive to develop more joined-up customer-focused services for business.

Motor Industry

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much funding MG Rover has received in total from the Foresight Vehicle LINK programme.

Jacqui Smith: Since the sale of MG Rover Group in May 2002, MG Rover has received one offer of grant for £62,500 under the Foresight Vehicle LINK programme.

Overseas Relocation

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has carried out into the number of United Kingdom firms considering relocating all or part of their operations abroad.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government take the issue of offshoring of UK operations very seriously. However, decisions on location are commercial matters for companies to take. We nevertheless need to understand better what is happening, and to this end we have launched a consultation document inviting views from businesses, employees and their unions, and consumer groups. I will also chair a round-table seminar in the new year, to help inform the debate on the impacts of offshoring.

Post Office Closures

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what response she is making to the letter from Postwatch of 1 December about the closure of post offices at Cowgate and Felham Hall Drive, Newcastle.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 9 December 2003
	I expect Post Office Ltd. to consider carefully the comments and representations by Postwatch and others during the public consultation on the proposed closure of Cowgate and Fenham sub post offices under the Urban Network Reinvention programme. I understand that the consultation period continues until 6 January.

Renewable Energy

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what action she is taking to support derogations in support of applications to build new hydro-electric developments; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what measures she is taking to support small and medium size companies promoting hydro-electric generating projects.

Stephen Timms: Output from some hydro-electric generating stations attracts support under the Renewables Obligation (RO), a market driven support mechanism that creates an assured market for renewables generators through to 2027.
	Specifically, hydro generating stations which meet the following criteria qualify for support under the RO:
	hydro stations under 20MW, subject to their fulfilling requirements on refurbishment;
	hydro stations of 1.25 MW or less that were built before 1990 that have always been in private ownership are eligible for the Obligation without having to refurbish;
	all other stations up to a maximum capacity of 20MW and built before 1990 must refurbish to qualify;
	all new stations commissioned after April 2002 will qualify.
	Since the introduction of the RO, evidence shows an increase in the number of new hydro and refurbished hydro stations coming online. This year three new small hydro developments have received consent and a further eight applications are currently under consideration.
	Grants are also available for small community or household schemes under the Clear Skies initiative.

Science and Society Directorate

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the (a) composition, (b) budget and (c) activities of the Science and Society Directorate.

Patricia Hewitt: As part of Office of Science and Technology the role of the Science and Society Directorate is an overarching, strategic cross departmental one, working with partners to identify and tackle major issues and to provide fresh evidence, insights, approaches and solutions.
	The Directorate was established in July to contribute to driving up UK productivity and competitiveness by improving the work of the Government on: ensuring young people are equipped to engage with scientific issues as active citizens of the future; raising public awareness, engagement and support of science; ensuring there is a sufficient supply of scientists and engineers; and promoting the involvement of women and ethnic minorities in science.
	The Directorate includes 13 staff and brings together four teams: the DiverSETy Team, which is currently responding to the Greenfield Report; the Public Engagement Team which works to increase public awareness of the role of science in society and everyday life; the Science in Schools Team, which works with external interests to deliver activities into schools that enhance the curricula; and the Supply of Scientists Team, which is focusing on responding to the Roberts Review.
	The Directorate is responsible for the oversight of direct expenditure of £7 million this year.

Secondments

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the purpose was of each secondment of a departmental employee to a company since May; what recompense the company made to the Department for the secondee; what the cost of the secondee to the Department was over the period of the secondment, including wages and pension contribution; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: Since May 2003, we have seconded five members of DTI to companies for a period of three months or more. The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Purpose of secondment Reimbursement to the Department (£) Cost to the Department 
		
		
			 A developmental opportunity to increase knowledge of environmental issues in the energy sector 16,062 per year Nil 
			 A developmental opportunity to increase knowledge of the financial services sector. 45,523 per year Nil 
			 A developmental opportunity to gain first-hand experience of sales and marketing in a large plc.  Net cost nil. The Department remains responsible for the secondee' s salary costs during the secondment, but in return the Department receives a secondee from the host organisation 
			 A developmental opportunity to increase business awareness by working in a large plc.  Net cost nil. The Department remains responsible for the secondees's salary costs during the secondment, but in return the Department receives a secondee from the host organisation 
			 A developmental opportunity to increase knowledge of the international nuclear energy business.  Net cost nil. The Department remains responsible for the secondee's salary costs during the secondment, but in return the Department receives a secondee from the host organisation 
		
	
	In addition, we also run a programme of one week attachment—the "Week in Business" scheme for Senior Civil Servants. The aim of the "Week in Business" short-term external attachment scheme is to help the Department to become more outward facing with a greater understanding of the issues facing our external stakeholders. It is also key in helping members of the SCS to gain experience of different ways of working so that good practice can be adopted internally.
	The scheme is also a mens of promoting the DTI to our external customers and making them more aware of how the Department operates and what we can offer.

Stamps

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many (a) first and (b) second class stamps have been sold in (i) the UK and (ii) Scotland in each year since 1999;
	(2)  how many (a) first and (b) second class Scottish definitive stamps have been sold in Scotland in each year since 1999;
	(3)  how many (a) post offices and (b) retail outlets sell stamps in Scotland;
	(4)  what estimate she has made of the cost of making the (a) first and (b) second class Scottish definitive stamps available in book format for sale at (i) post offices and (ii) retail outlets in Scotland.

Stephen Timms: These are operational matters for Royal Mail Group plc. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive of Royal Mail to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Steel Tariffs (USA)

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the costs incurred by UK industry arising from the decision by the US Administration to impose tariffs on steel in March 2002.

Patricia Hewitt: UK steel exports to the US fell significantly following the March 2002 decision. The impact on the UK industry was lessened to an extent by a number of decisions by the US to exclude particular products from the scope of the safeguard, and by the adoption by the EU of a mechanism to prevent surges of imported steel from third countries. These decisions, which followed lobbying by the Government in support of the steel industry, brought 74 per cent. of UK steel exports to the US outside the scope of the safeguard. However, the impact of the US measures continued to be negative and we therefore welcome the 5 December decision by President Bush to lift the US tariffs. This was a course of action that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister strongly urged the President to take during his visit to London.

Swan Hunter

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) applications have been made and (b) assistance has been granted for (i) Regional Selective Assistance and (ii) other Government grants by Swan Hunter in respect of its operations on Tyneside and Teesside since 1 January 2000.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is as follows.
	(i) For reasons of commercial confidentiality under Exemption 13—Third Party Commercial Confidences of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. I cannot comment on whether or not individual Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) applications have been made.
	Details of approved RSA projects over £75,000 (name of business, offer amount, Travel to Work Area and Standard Industrial Classification description) are published quarterly in Labour Market Trends following the first payment of grant.
	(ii) No other applications from or grants to Swan Hunter to assist its operations at Tyneside and Teesside since 1 January 2000 have been identified from available records.

Swan Hunter

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what applications have been made for (a) Regional Selective Assistance, (b) other Government grants and (c) European funding in respect of Swan Hunter's Port Clarence facilities.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) For reasons of commercial confidentiality under Exemption 13—Third Party's Commercial Confidences of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. I cannot comment on whether or not individual Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) applications have been made.
	Details of approved RSA projects over £75,000 (name of business, offer amount, Travel to Work Area and Standard Industrial Classification description) are published quarterly in Labour Market Trends following the first payment of grant
	(b) and (c) No other applications from or grants to Swan Hunter to assist its operations at Teesside have been identified from available records.

Unsolicited Emails

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to harmonise international laws on the sending of unsolicited emails.

Stephen Timms: The UK is active in international discussions on how to tackle the global problem of unwanted e-mail advertising, both in multilateral fora (such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) and bilaterally with the USA and other national governments. The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, which took effect on 11 December, implement the EU-wide approach in the Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications (Directive 2002/58/EC) of 18 September 2003.

Value for Money

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on value for money improvements in her Department for each year from 1997–98 to 2002–03.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department's annual spring Reports contain information on departmental management and public service delivery, including on measures taken to improve efficiency and value for money.
	For the years 1997–98 and 1998–99, value for money and efficiency savings were not reported separately in the Department's annual reports but were contained within the chapters on the Management of the Department.
	During the period covered by the Comprehensive Spending Review (1999–2002), the Department had a strategic efficiency target to achieve savings of 2.5 per cent.of its running costs each year. In 1999–2000 the DTI achieved a saving of 2.6 per cent. of running costs (£10.6 million projected costs of £406.6 million); and in 2000–01 the Department achieved a saving of 4.6 per cent. (£19.3 million on projected costs of £418.8 million).
	The CSR efficiency target was replaced for the 2000 Spending Review period (2001–04) by a Public Service Agreement Target to
	"achieve value for money improvements of 2.5 per cent. a year across the Department", which was carried over into the 2002 Spending Review (2003–06). In 2001–02 value for money improvements under this target amounted to 3.79 per cent. The Department's performance for 2002–03 will be reported on in the 2004 Departmental report, which is due to be published in spring 2004.

DEFENCE

Iraq

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what impact operations in Iraq have had on the future requirement for equipment.

Adam Ingram: Operation Telic reinforced the requirement to be able in the future to deploy and sustain armed forces equipped and trained both for warfighting and peace support operations. Operations in Iraq also demonstrated the importance of integrated joint capability. These trends are reflected in the White Paper published last week.

Iraq

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for North Durham (Mr. Jones).

Iraq

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his assessment of the security situation in southern Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: United Kingdom forces continue to provide an effective security capability in Iraq. Recent operations against smuggling, for example, have been a considerable success and were widely welcomed by the Iraqi people. Our forces are also closely engaged in developing Iraq's own security capabilities so that Iraqis can increasingly take responsibility for their own security. Already more than 10,500 Iraqi police are on patrol in the Multinational Division (South East), and more are being trained; other Iraqi security personnel are guarding vital infrastructure, facilities and coastline.

Iraq

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on operations in Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for North Durham (Mr. Jones).

Iraq

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on sending Christmas gifts, donated by charities and other organisations, to British troops in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 270W to the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Simpson).

Armed Forces

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made in the past three months in filling vacancies in the Army.

Ivor Caplin: The latest available figures indicate that whole Army trained strength increased by 540 between 1 August 2003 and 31 October 2003.

Armed Forces

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many recruits have joined the trained strength of the armed services in each of the last two years.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to Tri Service Publication 4: United Kingdom Armed Forces Quarterly Press Release which is available in the Library of the House and is updated each quarter.
	Table 4 contains figures for Gains to Trained Strength of UK Regular Forces.

Armed Forces

George Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department was of providing school places for children of Service personnel under the Service Education Allowance Scheme in each of the past 10 years.

Ivor Caplin: The total sums paid annually for boarding and day school fees by the Ministry of Defence in each of the past 10 years are not held centrally.
	I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 3 December 2003, Official Report, columns 67–68W, about the various per child annual rates of Service Education Allowances from 1996 onwards.

Big Conversation

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 December 2003, Official Report, column 355W, by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House of Commons.

Departmental Land

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken, and what plans he has, to derive money from land owned by his Department within the UK.

Ivor Caplin: I refer the hon. Member to the Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Attitude Surveys

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the top 10 answers in the last assessed Army Continuous Attitude Survey to (a) Question 27, (b) Question 35, (c) Question 39d, (d) Question 47 and (e) Question 48; how many respondents' answers agreed with each of the top 10; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: From the latest Army Serving Personnel Continuous Attitude Survey undertaken in December 2002, answers to questions 27, 35, 47 and 48 were expressed in terms of a sliding scale from Very Satisfied to Very Dissatisfied or Very High to Low. The answer to question 39d was a straight Yes or No. Given the nature of the response options to these questions, it is not possible to analyse the data in terms of a "top ten".

Attitude Surveys

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Army Continuous Attitude Survey last included questions on (a) overstretch and (b) privatisation and contractualisation; for what reason those questions are not included in the latest edition of the Army Continuous Attitude Survey; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: In compiling Continuous Attitude Surveys, questions are assimilated from a range of issues identified by the Army. The latest Army Serving Personnel Continuous Attitude Survey, undertaken in December 2002, included questions on overstretch. So far no direct questions have been asked about privatisation or contractorisation.

Attitude Surveys

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army personnel answered Scottish to Question Q6a in the last assessed Continuous Attitude Survey, broken down by rank; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: Question 6 in the latest Army Serving Personnel Continuous Attitude Survey, undertaken in December 2002, asked individuals about their nationality. The response options did not include "Scottish" and therefore information is not available to answer this question.

Attitude Surveys

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF personnel answered Scottish to Question A16a in the last assessed Continuous Attitude Survey, broken down by rank; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The most recent issue of the RAF Continuous General Attitude Survey for which results are available covers the period May to July 2003. The number of RAF personnel who answered Scottish to Question A16a in the last survey, broken down by rank is as follows:
	
		
			 Rank Number 
		
		
			 Aircraftman/woman 0 
			 Leading Aircraftman/woman 0 
			 Senior Aircraftman/woman 29 
			 Junior Technician 5 
			 Corporal 15 
			 Sergeant 13 
			 Chief Technician 5 
			 Flight Sergeant 6 
			 Warrant Officer/Master Aircrew 4 
			 Pilot Officer 0 
			 Flying Officer 1 
			 Flight Lieutenant 2 
			 Squadron Leader 3 
			 Wing Commander 0 
			 Group Captain 0 
			 Air Commodore or above 0 
			   
			 Total 83

Attitude Surveys

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of respondents to the last assessed RAF Continuous Attitude Survey responded (a) Strongly agree, (b) Agree, (c) Neither agree nor disagree, (d) Disagree and (e) Don't know/not applicable to questions (i) B12.1 and (ii) B12.2; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		RAF continuous attitude survey
		
			  B12.1 numbers responding As a percentageof those asked B12.2 numbers responding As a percentageof those asked 
		
		
			 Strongly Agree 324 16.2 428 21.4 
			 Agree 369 18.4 439 21.9 
			 Neither agree nor disagree 176 8.8 116 5.8 
			 Disagree 123 6.1 17 0.9 
			 Strongly disagree 7 0.4 0 0 
			 Don't Know/N/A 17 0.9 16 0.8 
			  
			 Total not responding to item or survey 984 49.2 984 49.2 
			  
			 Total number surveyed 2000 100 2000 100

Attitude Surveys

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of respondents to the last assessed RAF Continuous Attitude Survey responded (a) Strongly agree, (b) Agree, (c) Neither agree nor disagree, (d) Disagree and (e) Don't know/not applicable to questions (i) B12.5, (ii) B12.6, (iii) B12.7 and (iv) B12.8; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		RAF continuous attitude survey
		
			  B12.5 numbers responding As a percentage of those asked B12.6 numbers responding As a percentage of those asked B12.7 numbers responding As a percentage of those asked B12.8 numbers responding As a percentage of those asked 
		
		
			 Strongly Agree 92 4.6 51 2.5 43 2.1 62 3.1 
			 Agree 163 8.1 72 3.6 87 4.3 143 7.1 
			 Neither agree nor disagree 314 15.7 360 18 335 16.7 280 14 
			 Disagree 237 1 1 .9 280 14 299 15 281 14.1 
			 Strongly disagree 71 3.5 78 3.9 75 3.8 68 3.4 
			 Don't Know/N/A 137 6.9 174 8.7 175 8.8 180 9 
			  
			 Total not responding to Item or survey 986 49.3 985 49.3 986 49.3 986 49.3 
			  
			 Total number surveyed 2000 100 2000 100 2000 100 2000 100

Death-in-service Benefits

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the lump sum death-in-service pay is to widows or widowers for an army corporal;
	(2)  what percentage of an army corporal's final salary is payable to a spouse following death-in-service.

Ivor Caplin: The current Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) final salary benefits are not based on individual earnings but on a representative rate of pay for each rank. This means that all those of the same rank with the same length of service retiring in the same year receive the same rate of pension regardless of their actual earnings. The current representative rate of pay for a corporal is £24,678 per annum. The level of death-in-service lump sum paid to a widow or widower of a corporal in the Regular Army depends on length of service and whether the death was attributable to service. Where the cause of death is not attributable, the current lump sum is between £23,938 and £35,907, between 97 per cent. and 146 per cent. of the representative rate of pay. If the death is attributable to service, an attributable gratuity of £11,969 is paid in addition to the non-attributable lump sum; this increases the value of the lump sum as a percentage of the representative rate of pay to between 146 per cent. and 194 per cent. Both the lump sum and gratuity are paid tax-free.
	In addition to the lump sum, the widow of a corporal in the Regular Army would receive a short-term pension which is equivalent to 100 per cent. of the individual's final salary, paid, depending on circumstances, for a period of between 91 and 273 days. When the short-term pension ceases, a long-term pension is paid. The non-attributable widow's pension is 6.5 per cent. of the representative rate of pay where the individual has served for five years; this rises to 24.25 per cent. for 34 or more years' service. The attributable widows pension is 39 per cent. of the representative rate of pay.

European Union Defence Policy

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received from member Governments of NATO about European Union defence policy.

Geoff Hoon: Discussions are continuing on European Security and Defence Policy with both NATO and non-NATO EU member states. In addition to these bilateral discussions, the North Atlantic Council and the Political and Security Committee meet on a regular basis to discuss ESDP issues.

Mental Health

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what (a) medical, (b) financial and (c) administrative factors the decision to close the Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital in Catterick was based.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 11 December 2003
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 October 2003, Official Report, column 324W to the hon. Member for South Dorset (Mr. Knight).
	The decision to close the Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital (DKPH) was taken on clinical grounds.

Ministry of Defence Police

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what standard instructions are given to Ministry of Defence police personnel on secondment or assignment to assist the civilian police where the criminal responsibility of senior officers may be the subject of the investigation.

Ivor Caplin: Ministry of Defence police officers seconded or assigned to assist a Home Department police force are subject to the operational control of that force. It would be for the force in question to issue instructions on the conduct of inquiries.

Northern Ireland Veterans

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding is available to support Northern Ireland veterans.

Ivor Caplin: There is no Ministry of Defence funding specifically for Northern Ireland veterans. MOD funds programmes aimed at preventing Service leavers, which would include those who have served in Northern Ireland, falling into social exclusion and homelessness such as the Single Persons Accommodation Centre for Ex-Services in Catterick, the Armed Forces Project in Colchester and the Joint Services Housing Advice Office. MOD also contributes towards Project Compass, a partnership project in London aimed at assisting homeless veterans back into employment.

Northern Ireland Veterans

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Northern Ireland veterans he estimates are homeless.

Ivor Caplin: The number of homeless veterans who have served in Northern Ireland is not known at present. In January 2004, the Ministry of Defence and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are planning to begin a study into the extent, causes, impact and costs of homelessness and rough sleeping among ex-Service personnel in England. As part of this study, homeless veterans will be asked about their Service background and operational experience which will include Service in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Veterans

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Northern Ireland veterans are serving prison sentences.

Ivor Caplin: There are no routine statistics of this kind collected on veterans who have either served in Northern Ireland or who live there. The Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate survey, carried out in December 2001 in 76 prisons around the United Kingdom, found that 5.6 per cent. of prisoners were veterans of the armed forces, of which 11 per cent. had been in the Royal Navy, 4 per cent. were in the Royal Air Force and 85 per cent. were in the Army.

Territorial Army

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of (a) independent units and (b) specialist units of the Territorial Army have completed (i) five years, (ii) 10 years, (iii) 15 years and (iv) 20 years of service in each of the last six years in each nation within the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Vaccinations

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the vaccines administered to service personnel since 1990 which were not licensed in the United Kingdom at the time of administration; for what there were administered; how many personnel were involved in each case; what follow up checks have taken place; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

PRIME MINISTER

Big Conversation

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  how members of the public are being informed they can take part in the Big Conversation; and how Big Conversation events are being publicised;
	(2)  how many members of the public he estimates will respond to the Big Conversation;
	(3)  what proportion of the findings of the Big Conversation will be made public; and in what format;
	(4)  who will be responsible for replying to those who take part in the Big Conversation.

Tony Blair: These are matters for the Labour Party.

Honours

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister how many honours have been returned since January 1997.

Tony Blair: Since 1 January 1997 18 people returned the honours they had been awarded to the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood or to my office.
	This compares with almost 18,500 honours granted to people during the same period.

Honours

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister how many people refused the offer of an honour in the latest year for which figures are available, broken down by type of honour.

Tony Blair: Because of the confidential nature of the honours process individuals are asked in confidence whether they wish to be considered for an honour; it is a matter for them whether they wish to make their decision known publicly.
	The number of people who refuse an honour has consistently been around 2 per cent. of the recommendations that are made each year.

Ministerial Absence

David Davis: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 374W, on ministerial duties, on how many occasions appropriate arrangements have been put in place as a result of the Prime Minister being absent for any reason since May 1997; and what the arrangements were in each case.

Tony Blair: A record of these occasions is not held centrally. However, as the right hon. Member will be aware, when I have been on official visits overseas, for example, the Deputy Prime Minister has deputised for me at Prime Minister's Questions.

Nuclear Non-proliferation

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what initiatives he took at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Nigeria to raise with his (a) Indian and (b) Pakistani counterparts the prospects of their respective states joining the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as non-nuclear weapon states.

Tony Blair: I discussed issues of mutual concern with Prime Minister Vajpayee in the margins of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. However, the question of Indian accession to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapons state was not raised.
	Pakistan is currently suspended from all Councils of the Commonwealth.
	We regularly press both countries to accede to both the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

Office Space Allocations

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister on what date office space was allocated by his office to accommodate the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson), what square footage this comprises; what staff support has been made available to the right hon. Member; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Neither office space nor staff support has been allocated or made available to the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson).

Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the costs of special advisers for 2002–03 indicating the cost of administrative and secretarial staff.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Croydon, Central (Geraint Davies) on 16 July 2003, Official Report, columns 327–30W.
	The information requested on costs of administrative and secretarial staff is not held centrally.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Additional Lifetime Earnings

Ken Purchase: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of average additional lifetime earnings accruing to those leaving full-time education at age 19 compared to age 16.

Ivan Lewis: There is conclusive evidence that staying in full-time education after the age of 16 increases an individual's lifetime earnings potential. People who have two or more A-levels earn on average 15 per cent. more over their lifetime than people who do not, even after allowing for other qualifications gained. The returns to level 3 vocational qualifications typically acquired at ages 16–19 are also significantly positive.
	The vast majority of young people remain in education until at least age 16. However, GCSE achievement rates vary. An individual who gains five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C can expect to earn 25–30 per cent. more than someone who does not achieve this level, again allowing for any other qualifications subsequently gained.
	The document "Education and Skills: The Economic Benefit" published by DfES in May 2003 presents both Government and wider research undertaken into the economic benefits of public provision of education. It highlights the social and economic value of education and skills, from a basic skills level to degree level, in terms of earnings, employment and social benefits.

City Academies

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the components of the expenditure on city academies as set out in the table of expenditure by function by the Department in the Winter Supplementary Estimate 2003–04.

David Miliband: holding answer 9 December 2003
	The components of expenditure set out in the table relate to Academies running costs. The main component (set out in the table of expenditure by function contained within the Winter Supplementary Estimate) relates to recurrent costs and covers the general annual grant paid by the Secretary of State to individual Academies. This figure also includes the general administrative expenditure costs incurred by the Department in the running of the programme.
	The second, smaller component relates to amounts paid to Academies by local education authorities in respect of the Standards Fund.

Coalfield Communities

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the levels of educational attainment in the UK coalfields, and on Government action to improve them.

Ivan Lewis: In England, the increase in levels of educational attainment in coalfield areas since 1998, reflects that of England as a whole. In addition we are already seeing evidence that the gap between attainment in coalfield areas and non-coalfield areas is beginning to close.
	DfES is committed to working closely with other Departments in order to develop a package of support for former coalfield areas. We know that coalfield areas have suffered from low levels of educational attainment and we have a range of targeted initiatives to raise attainment. We are succeeding in raising aspirations and attainment though policies that aim to ensure that all learners attain the highest standards, regardless of where they live.
	DfES also works closely with all the key coalfield organisations such as Coalfield Communities Campaign (CCC), Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT), Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO) and Coalfield Learning Initiative Partnership (CLIP) to improve our targeting and tackle problems.

Coalfield Communities

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding his Department has allocated in each year to the Sure Start programme since its establishment; and how it has been spent in (a) St. Helens South, (b) St. Helens, (c) Merseyside and (d) the North West Region.

Margaret Hodge: The total annual budget (capital and revenue) allocated to Sure Start local programmes since the policy was established has been as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1999–2000 84 
			 2000–01 184 
			 2002–02 184 
			 2002–03 449 
			 2003–04 (5)355 
		
	
	(5) Grant has been re-profiled to take account of previous year's rate of spend Individual programmes have been established through six planning rounds. In each round, eligible local authority districts were invited to identify a catchment area and set up a programme. The resulting programme has been provided with an indicative annual revenue profile and a single capital allocation to develop necessary facilities.
	524 local programmes are being developed across the country. Of these, 108 are in the north-west of England—26 in Merseyside. The St. Helens district has five programmes of which three are in St. Helens South.
	The financial information requested for the north-west region is set out in the following table. Information is drawn from local programmes' grant letters and their audit certificates as well as the Sure Start Unit's finance and performance monitoring IT system. Explanatory notes are attached at the end of each table.
	
		Table (a) St. Helens South
		
			Revenue (£) 
			2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 Capital (£) 
			 Round Sure Start local programme Year of approval Allocation Spend Allocation Spend Allocation Spendto date Allocation Claimto date 
		
		
			 4 Fourways 5/9/2001 102,691 102,691 382,400 332,170 594,200 253,115 1,000,000 0 
			 5 Happy Elephant 27/6/2002 0 83,652 365,069 281,417 539,914 405,695 1,000,000 11,500 
			 6 Phoenix 6/5/2003 n/a n/a n/a n/a 560,000 0 1,000,000 0 
			  Total funding  102,691 186,343 747,469 613,587 1,694,114 658,810 3,000,000 11,500 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Local programmes are allocated funds at the beginning of each financial year based on their delivery plan.
	2. Programmes claim grant quarterly using the Sure Start Unit's online claims system.
	3. n/a denotes that the programme was not operational in that year.
	4. Where there is spend against a nil allocation, this indicates start up or advance payments, which are anticipated from the first financial year of operation.
	5. Claims for the 2003–04 financial year are still on-going—£0 indicates that a claim has either not been made or is in the process of being made.
	6. Capital funding for Sure Start local programmes is normally a single allocated sum from which programmes draw down funds for particular projects. As programmes do not make regular claims, this has been shown as spend (or claims) to date. Programmes are encouraged to use their capital allocation within 3–5 years of their delivery plan being approved.
	
		Table (b) St. Helens
		
			 Revenue (£) 
			2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
			 Round Sure Start local programme Year of approval Allocation Spend Allocation Spend Allocation Spend 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1 Parr(6) (6)20/1/2000 519,000 300,600 547,000 405,079 694,950 624,509 
			 4 Fourways 5/9/2001 n/a n/a 102,691 102,691 382,400 332,170 
			 5 Happy Elephant 27/6/2002 n/a n/a 0 83,652 365,069 281,417 
			 5 Central Link 6/9/2002 n/a n/a 0 98,660 323,129 189,236 
			 6 Phoenix 6/5/2003 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  Total funding  519,000 300,600 649,691 690,082 1,765,548 1,427,332 
		
	
	
		
			Revenue (£) 
			2003–04 Capital (£) 
			 Round Sure Start local programme Year of approval Allocation Spend to date Allocation Claim to date 
		
		
			 1 Parr(6) 20/1/2000(6) 755,170 413,914 1,250,000 15,700 
			 4 Fourways 5/9/2001 594,200 253,115 1,000,000 0 
			 5 Happy Elephant 27/6/2002 539,914 405,695 1,000,000 11,500 
			 5 Central Link 6/9/2002 519,094 202,392 1,000,000 0 
			 6 Phoenix 6/5/2003 560,000 0 1,000,000 0 
			  Total funding  2,968,378 1,275,115 5,250,000 27,200 
		
	
	(6) Sure Start Parr was approved in financial year 1999–2000 but because of late approval, spend was negligible in that financial year.
	Notes:
	1. Local programmes are allocated funds at the beginning of each financial year based on their delivery plan.
	2. Programmes claim grant quarterly using the Sure Start Unit's online claims system.
	3. n/a denotes that the programme was not operational in that year.
	4. Where there is spend against a nil allocation, this indicates start up or advance payments, which are anticipated from the first financial year of operation.
	5. Claims for the 2003–04 financial year are still on-going—£0 indicates that a claim has either not been made or is in the process of being made.
	6. Capital funding for Sure Start local programmes is normally a single allocated sum from which programmes draw down funds for particular projects. As programmes do not make regular claims, this has been shown as spend (or claims) to date. Programmes are encouraged to use their capital allocation within 3–5 years of their delivery plan being approved.
	
		Table (c) Merseyside, including St. Helens -- Total funding (£)
		
			 Number of programmes—(26 across six rounds)  
			 Revenue  
		
		
			 2000–01  
			 Allocation 2,871,232 
			 Spend 1,595,000 
			  
			 2001–02  
			 Allocation 5,228,760 
			 Spend 3,678,612 
			  
			 2002–03  
			 Allocation 9,390,882 
			 Spend 8,213,327 
			   
			 2003–04  
			 Allocation 15,999,058 
			 Spend to date 5,773,821 
			  
			 Capital  
			 Allocation 27,199,839 
			 Spend to date 3,765,510 
		
	
	Note:
	1. A few round 1 programmes were approved at the end of the financial year 1999–2000 but, given the late start, spend in that financial year was negligible.
	
		Table (d) North West -- Total funding (£)
		
			 Number of programmes—(108 across six rounds)  
			 Revenue  
		
		
			 2000–01  
			 Allocation n/a 
			 Spend n/a 
			   
			 2001–02  
			 Allocation 22,770,182 
			 Spend 15,379,256 
			   
			 2002–03  
			 Allocation 33,630,120 
			 Spend audits pending 
			 2003–04  
			 Allocation 72,175,410 
			 Spend to date 14,417,816 
			 Capital  
			 Total allocation 110,944,324 
			 Spend to date 45,800,000 
		
	
	Notes:1. We are unable to provide an accurate picture of the overall revenue spend for the North West region as a whole for financial year 2000–01 because data processes were not set up to collect this information on a regional basis until 2001–02.2. Audit certificates for the financial year 2002–03 are still being submitted to the Sure Start Unit from some of the North West programmes and therefore spend figures for the region as a whole are unavailable at present.
	3. The capital spend to date figure refers to the total value of capital projects approved to date, which programmes are able to draw down. The actual amount claimed to date is £15.3 million. The discrepancy is due to building work not being completed (and so not claimed for) or accountable bodies funding work and not yet claiming it back.

Education Projects (St. Helens)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if he will list the capital projects which (a) have been completed and (b) were in progress in St. Helens in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what capital expenditure there was on (a) education as a whole, (b) nursery schools, (c) primary education and (d) secondary education in (i) St. Helens, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) the North West Region, in each year since 1992.

David Miliband: We hold details only of total capital allocations made to (i) St. Helens, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) the North West. We do not hold the other information requested as the bulk of capital investment for school buildings is allocated to local education authorities and to schools. Capital funding allocated to St. Helens, Merseyside and the North West is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Capital allocations (£000) 
			  St. Helens Merseyside North West 
		
		
			 1996–97 2,286 14,823 66,532 
			 1997–98 1,818 23,826 70,166 
			 1998–99 3,244 31,119 99,517 
			 1999–2000 3,802 33,725 127,927 
			 2000–01 6,603 202,210 234,131 
			 2001–02 5,562 55,150 220,608 
			 2002–03 10,234 61,114 242,917 
			 2003–04 7,152 73,057 334,065

Education Projects (St. Helens)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which projects have been (a) wholly and (b) partly funded by his Department in St. Helens since 1997; when each project was announced; when it started or was expected to start; what funding was provided by (i) Government and (ii) a third party; what third party provided funding; what the target group of the project was; what the projected outcome of the project was; and what the name of the project was.

David Miliband: We do not hold the information requested as the bulk of capital investment for school buildings is allocated to local education authorities and to schools. Capital funding allocated to St. Helen's LEA is set out in the following table:
	
		Capital funding allocated to St. Helen's LEA
		
			 St. Helen's LEA capital allocations Total (£000) 
		
		
			 1996–97 2,286 
			 1997–98 1,818 
			 1998–99 3,244 
			 1999–2000 3,802 
			 2000–01 6,603 
			 2002–02 5,562 
			 2002–03 10,234 
			 2003–04 7,152

Foundation Courses

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the average cost of each place on a foundation degree course in the current academic year.

Alan Johnson: The Higher Education Funding Council for England funds honours degree and foundation degree courses on the basis of a formula which varies according to subject, institution and student factors. The funding is allocated to institutions as a block grant and how they allocate it is for them to determine. Institutions also receive funding from other sources, both public and private and may use it to subsidise some courses or faculties. The actual cost may therefore vary between institutions and subjects.

Further Education Colleges

Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposals contained in the White Paper, "The Future of Higher Education", on further education colleges which provide higher education courses; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The Higher Education Funding Council for England has recently run a bidding round for additional student numbers for foundation degrees. Further education colleges (FEC) have been invited to bid for those places in collaboration with higher education institutions, Sector Skills Councils and Regional Development Agencies. An announcement on the outcomes of this bidding round will be made early next year.
	I have asked the Chief Executives of the Higher Education Funding Council and the Learning and Skills Councils to work together to reduce the bureaucracy faced by further education colleges that provide courses of higher education. I expect them to produce a consultation paper by early 2004 .
	The Quality Assurance Agency, Ofsted, and the Adult Learning Inspectorate have recently piloted a parallel review and inspection of a FEC, which should reduce burden and bureaucracy for the FEC. The agencies are currently evaluating the success of this pilot and will provide a report to me early in the New Year. White Paper Commitment Foundation degrees will often be delivered in further education colleges and we will build and strengthen the links between further and higher education, to give students clearer progression pathways and support the development of work-based degrees. As part of this, we will streamline the funding regimes to make collaboration easier.

GCSEs

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in how many schools fewer than 20 per cent. of pupils achieved (a) qualifications equivalent to five GCSEs at grade A* to C and (b) five GCSEs at grades A* to C in each year between 1996 and 2002; and what his estimate is for each year from 2003 to 2006.

David Miliband: The number of schools with fewer than 20 per cent. of pupils who achieved five or more grades A* -C at GCSE and GNVQ combined is:
	
		
			 Academic year Number of schools with less than 20 per cent. of pupils achieving 5+ A* -C at GCSE/GNVQ 
		
		
			 1996(7) 384 
			 1997 361 
			 1998 325 
			 1999 277 
			 2000 241 
			 2001 196 
			 2002 157 
		
	
	(7) 1996 figures includes GCSE results only, GNVQs commenced in 1997.
	The number of schools with fewer than 20 per cent. of pupils who achieved five or more grades A*–C at GCSE only is:
	
		
			 Academic year Number of schools with less than 20 per cent. of pupils achieving 5+ A* -C at GCSE only 
		
		
			 1996(8) 384 
			 1997 368 
			 1998 339 
			 1999 312 
			 2000 279 
			 2001 245 
			 2002 240 
		
	
	(8) 1996 figures includes GCSE results only, GNVQs commenced in 1997.
	The number of schools where fewer than 20 per cent. of pupils achieved five or more GCSEs at grade A* to C or the equivalent has dropped significantly year-on-year since 1996, and we are confident the efforts of pupils, schools and LEAs mean that this trend will continue. Through increasing use of contextualised pupil-level data, our Advisers are working closely with schools and LEAs to ensure that every pupil's chances of exam success are maximised. This work has a particular focus on narrowing the attainment gap between the lowest performing schools and the highest.

Higher Education

Gerry Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the limit of parental income would be beyond which students would receive no financial assistance under the Government's proposals for higher education funding.

Alan Johnson: All students, regardless of their family income, will be eligible for some financial assistance under the Government's proposals. The non-means tested element (75 per cent.) of the maintenance loan will continue to be available to all students, while the remaining 25 per cent. will be linked to family income. We do not intend to means-test loans for fees, which are to be introduced from 2006–07. Additional support will, as now, be available on a means-tested basis in the form of tuition fee remission and, from 2004–05, a new higher education grant will be introduced for those from poorer backgrounds. This financial assistance is in addition to existing targeted support for specific groups such as disabled students or student parents.

Leadership and Management

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what initiatives the Department has introduced to improve (a) leadership and (b) management skills in schools; and what assessment he has made of their effectiveness.

David Miliband: holding answer 4 December 2003
	We set up the National College for School Leadership in November 2000 to deliver a wide range of professional development and leadership training opportunities for headteachers, aspiring headteachers and other school leaders at every stage of their careers, including middle managers. Ofsted regularly inspects the effectiveness of school leadership and management and from September this year introduced a new framework for inspecting these skills more rigorously. In June this year Ofsted reported that the proportion of schools with very good or excellent leadership and management has more than doubled since 1996–97. In his statement to this House on 29 October about school funding, the Secretary of State announced that KPMG had been commissioned to work with NCSL and headteacher associations to design and develop a varied menu of support and guidance to help schools' budget and resource management. In the remaining months of the current financial year £1.5 million is being made available for this programme which includes a website, workshop, helpdesk and consultancy.

Leadership Initiative Payments

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the schools that have received leadership initiative payments.

David Miliband: The list of the 1406 schools eligible for the Leadership Incentive Grant is available on the DfES Standards website at www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schoolimprovement

Music Lessons

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that musical instrument lessons are available to all pupils who wish to benefit from them; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 11 December 2003
	We have pledged that, over time, all primary school pupils who want to should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. Ofsted are currently evaluating 12 pilots that aim to demonstrate how schools, LEA Music Services and other providers can work together to offer a programme of wider musical opportunities which builds on the National Curriculum for Music. We will publicise the results of this evaluation in the New Year, along with some new guidance from QCA on how teachers can incorporate instrumental tuition into their classroom work.
	In addition, the Department continues to support LEA Music Services. Almost £60 million a year goes to LEAs via the Music Standards Fund, which can be spent in any way which enhances opportunities for pupils to access musical education of high quality, including instrumental tuition.

National Learner Satisfaction Survey

Khalid Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the National Learner Satisfaction Survey published by the Learning and Skills Council in November; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The result of the 2002–03 National Learner Satisfaction Survey, commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council, is excellent news. It shows that learners' needs and aspirations are being met, with more than 90 per cent. overall satisfied with their learning experience. This important customer feedback, taken with other measures of quality we have put in place, is an important indicator against which to judge the success of the learning and skills sector.

Qualified Teachers

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the number of qualified teachers in schools.

David Miliband: holding answer 11 December 2003
	In January 2003, there were 408,400 full-time equivalent regular teachers with Qualified Teacher Status employed in the maintained schools sector in England. That is 12,200 more than in January 1997 and the most at anytime since January 1984.

Pupil Behavioural Programmes

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent by his Department on pupil behavioural programmes in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 3 December 2003
	Since 1997 the DfES has provided funding for a range of activities related to pupil inclusion and disaffection, including behaviour and attendance. The Standards Fund has been the main channel for such funding. The following table shows relevant DfES grants to LEAs made through the Standards Fund or its predecessor from 1997–98 to 2002–03. It excludes LEA contributions. These funds were spent on a wide range of measures and services including Learning Support Units, Pupil Referral Units and Education Welfare Officers.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1997–98 10.4 
			 1998–99 11.4 
			 1999–2000 28.5 
			 2000–01 69.1 
			 2001–02 85.9 
			 2002–03 84.5 
		
	
	In 2002–03 the DfES also provided £50 million for targeted schools through the Behaviour Improvement Programme. Building on that, we will be providing over £150 million in 2003–04 to support schools and LEAs in improving behaviour and attendance.

Research Funding

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on the development of the North West regional economy of the revised distribution mechanisms for university research funding; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: Research funding is allocated to institutions according to quality and volume, using the results of the Research Assessment Exercise. There is no regional element. In 2003–04 the North West region received £108 million in quality-related research funding, an increase of over £9 million on the previous year.
	The recent consultation on research assessment, carried out by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the other UK higher education funding bodies, received over three hundred responses from higher education institutions and sector stakeholder bodies. The higher education funding bodies are considering the responses and are expected to make an announcement about a new system of assessment and funding distribution early in the New Year.

School Buildings

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school buildings in use were built before 1975; and where these are situated.

David Miliband: holding answer 9 December 2003
	Our categorisation of LEA asset management plan data returns allows buildings constructed up to and including 1976 to be separately identified. The total number of separate school buildings (excluding temporary buildings) within this category, for which information has been provided, is approximately 52,000. This large number reflects the fact that many schools have several buildings of different age categories on their sites. The LEA/school number codes for each building on the attached spreadsheets indicate where they are situated. In view of the large size of the analysis document, it has been made available on the DfES web site at: www.teachernet.gov.uk/amps

School Trips

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether schools are obliged to publish risk assessments in relation to school trips.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 11 December 2003
	The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers (local education authorities for most schools in England) to tell employees about the measures taken to manage risk. There is no requirement to publish the risk assessment.

Science Examinations

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) girls and (b) boys sat examinations in science subjects at (i) A Level and (ii) AS Level in each year since 1997; and what the pass rate was in each case.

David Miliband: Information requested has been placed in the Library.

SEND Tribunal System

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost to public funds of the Special Educational Needs and Disability tribunal system was in the last year for which information is available (a) in total, (b) per case dealt with and (c) per application.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 11 December 2003
	The total cost of the SEN and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) for the year 2002 to 2003 was £4,715,000 plus £1,252,000 central overheads giving a total of £5,967,000. 3,445 appeals were registered during that period, giving a cost of £1,732 per appeal. 3,780 appeals were received, giving a cost per appeal received of £1,578.

Skills Agenda (West Midlands)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills who is responsible for the Skills Agenda for the West Midlands region.

Ivan Lewis: There are a number of different agencies responsible for delivering different aspects of the skills agenda in the West Midlands. This reflects the wide range of national, regional and local bodies involved in the Government's national skills strategy. The strategy aims to integrate existing structures and focus them more effectively through stronger partnerships at national and regional level.
	At regional level, we have asked each Regional Development Agency to work with delivery partners to create a Regional Skills Partnership. These will bring together the Learning and Skills Council, the Small Business Service, Jobcentre Plus, the Skills for Business network, Government Offices and others with an important regional perspective. Regional Skills Partnerships will address regional economic competitiveness and deliver the agenda set out in the Skills Strategy for their region.

Streaming

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the educative value of ability grouping for English lessons.

David Miliband: A review of research conducted by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) in 1998, concluded that there are no significant differences between ability grouping, setting, mixed ability teaching and streaming in terms of outcomes, and that the overall effects are inconclusive. However, the review suggested that it is possible to identify a list of benefits and limitations for the main kinds of grouping at the level of the institution, teacher and pupil.
	Pupil grouping by ability is not mandatory for English lessons. It is for schools to develop and determine for themselves, the best form of pupil grouping to meet the learning needs of all their pupils. To support this, both the Primary and the Key Stage 3 National Strategies in English have produced a range of resources for schools to use in meeting the needs of their pupils, particularly those below the expected levels. This allows schools the flexibility of being able to provide for their pupils whole class teaching; short-term optional modules suited to needs and abilities; within class pupil grouping for better differentiation of teaching; mentoring, booster and master class arrangements.

Student Finance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average student loan taken out by students from (a) Stroud, (b) the South West Region and (c) England was in each year since 1999–2000.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 9 December 2003
	The table shows the average full-time income-contingent loan taken out by students in the South West Government Office Region and England.
	
		Average income-contingent(9),(10),(11) loan taken out by domicile of student-academic years 1999/2000, 2000/01 and 2001/02(12)
		
			  Academic year 
			  1999/2000 2000/01(13) 2001/02(14) 
		
		
			 South West Government Office Region(15) 3,240 3,190 3,250 
			 England 3,180 3,160 3,190 
		
	
	(9) Loans available to students who entered higher education from September 1998, excludes the fixed rate loans (£500) for eligible part-time students, introduced in September 2000.
	(10) Mandatory award holders, i.e. those eligible for mortgage style loans, made applications for student loans through their education institution; data are therefore not available for these students.
	(11) Data at a level below England have been taken from available data and may include a small number of loans which have been authorised for payment but not paid; England data are only those loans actually paid.
	(12) Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10.
	(13) The apparent fall in the average value of income-contingent loan taken out in 2000/01 can be explained mainly by the fact that this was the third year of this loan scheme; students on the third year of a three year course will receive the final year rate of loan which is at a lower rate as it does not cover the summer vacation. This effect is not present in 1999/2000 and has been levelled out in the years subsequent to 2000/01. Additionally, this is likely to be the first year in which those students on sandwich courses have their placement year and are therefore in receipt of the reduced rate of loan.
	(14) Latest year for which data are available.
	(15) Government Office Region of domicile of student.
	Note:
	Data on the average student loan taken out by students from Stroud are not available.
	Source:
	Student Loans Company

Student Loans

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether his Department will continue to repay student loans for teachers of shortage subjects under the Repayment of Teachers' Loans Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: This Department will continue to repay the student loans of teachers who were accepted onto the scheme during the current three-year pilot. A thorough evaluation of the pilot will be undertaken and will inform the decisions on the scheme's future beyond 2004–05.

Student Loans

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the total cost of funding the increased student loan book after the introduction of top-up fees in 2006.

Alan Johnson: The increase in the amount of student loan after the introduction of variable fees will depend on the following factors: the numbers of students entering Higher Education Institutions (HEIs); the level of fees charged by each HEI; and the proportion of students who choose to take out loans to cover the cost of their fees, and the value of such loans. We will make further details available in the New Year in the Regulatory Impact Assessment, which will set out the financial implications of the policies announced in the Higher Education White Paper.

Workforce Reform

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the paper, "Workforce Reform—Blue Skies".

David Miliband: holding answer 11 December 2003
	This note by officials was produced without the authority or knowledge of Ministers. It is not policy and will not become policy.

TREASURY

Cancer

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the survival rates were for the most common forms of cancer in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) other members of the European Union in (i) 1997 and (ii) the most recent period for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. James Clappison, dated 15 December 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the survival rates for the most common forms of cancer in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) other members of the European Union in (i) 1997 and (ii) the most recent period for which figures are available.
	Comparable information on cancer survival in the European Union is provided by the EUROCARE study. This covers parts of the UK and Europe. The most recently published results from this study are in "Survival of Cancer Patients in Europe: the EUROCARE-2 Study" (IARC Scientific Publications No. 151); a copy is available in the House of Commons Library. These results relate to patients diagnosed with cancer during 1985–89 and followed up to the end of 1994.
	Findings from EUROCARE-3 are currently due to be published in the Annals of Oncology in early 2004. This will provide information on survival up to five years after diagnosis for patients diagnosed with cancer during 1990–94 and followed up to the end of 1999.

Ethnic Minorities

Mark Oaten: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the size of the ethnic minority population in England and Wales as a proportion of the general population in 2009.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Mark Oaten, dated 15 December 2003
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on the estimated ethnic minority population in England and Wales as a proportion of the general population in 2009. (143404)
	There are currently no official projections of the ethnic minority population for England and Wales. However, the Office for National Statistics is currently carrying out a research project aiming to produce national and subnational population projections by ethnic group, fully consistent with the official national population projections, using existing data sources.

Customs

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when Customs records relating to regulatory controls on the importation of firearms at Farnborough airport in 1999 were destroyed; how many (a) prohibited firearms were controlled arising from a single flight arriving in March 1999 and (b) non-prohibited firearms were controlled at other times in 1999; and whether the date of March 1999 recorded as the month in which prohibited weapons were controlled at Farnborough has been ascertained from (i) a contemporaneous record and (ii) a secondary record;
	(2)  how many prohibited firearms were surrendered to Customs by passengers who arrived at United Kingdom airports in 1999 on civilian flights in such a manner that the incidents were deemed by Customs not to be irregular.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 20 November 2003, Official Report, column 1330W. The Customs records referred to in that answer were destroyed in February 2002. The date recorded in relation to the movement of prohibited weapons in March 1999 was obtained from a secondary record.
	All four of the firearms controlled by HM Customs and Excise in the single importation in March 1999 were prohibited within the meaning of the Firearms Act 1968.
	An accurate total of the number of non-prohibited firearms controlled by Customs at other times in 1999 is no longer available, as the only records still in existence are incomplete.
	Information on the numbers of prohibited firearms surrendered at UK airports in 1999 could be provided only at disproportionate cost, and are also likely to be incomplete.
	In accordance with international aviation agreements and Civil Aviation Authority regulations, Customs do not regard importations of prohibited firearms by air passengers as irregular where they are declared by:
	a sky marshal who holds a firearm for the purposes of protecting and aircraft and its passengers;
	a VIP bodyguard;
	a properly authorised UK police officer; or
	any other passenger who is resident in a foreign state and whose possession of that firearm is lawful in that state.
	Customs' normal policy is to require prior notification of the intended arrival of armed sky marshals or bodyguards. Properly authorised police officers may retain possession of their firearms. In other cases Customs detain the firearms and any ammunition, which are then returned to the person on departure from the UK.

Customs

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Customs facilities at Farnborough airport included red and green physical channels in 1999.

John Healey: Customs controls at Farnborough airport in 1999 operated on the basis of individual clearance of all the incoming international passengers, rather than use of the red and green Channels system.

Departmental Procurement

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much Government Departments spent in procurement (a) from the private sector and (b) from International Business Machines Corporation and its subsidiaries in each year from 1997–98 to 2002–03.

Paul Boateng: This information about expenditure by Government departments with suppliers from the private sector, including International Business Machines and its subsidiaries, could only be obtained from individual departments and agencies. They would need to consider the ability to supply such information in consideration of guidance on disproportionate costs.

Euro

Helen Liddell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide an update on euro changeover planning (a) within Government, (b) across the public sector and (c) in other areas of the economy.

Ruth Kelly: The Seventh Report on euro preparations was published on 18 November 2003. The report sets out progress in euro preparations across the UK economy since the Chancellor's statement to the House of Commons on UK membership of EMU on 9 June 2003.

EU Trade

Helen Liddell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in England reliant on trade with the EU in (a) 2003 and (b) each of the past 10 years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in Wales reliant on trade with the EU in (a) 2003 and (b) each of the past 10 years;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in Northern Ireland reliant on trade with the EU in (a) 2003 and (b) each of the past 10 years;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in Scotland reliant on trade with the EU in (a) 2003 and (b) each of the past 10 years.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury estimates that 3 million jobs in the UK are linked, directly and indirectly, to the export of goods and services to the European Union. This figure is based on the assumption that the share of total UK employment associated with UK exports to the EU is equal to the share of total UK value added (GVA) generated by UK exports to the EU. The information necessary to apply the same method to derive comparable estimates for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is not available.

EU Trade

Helen Liddell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the value of (a) exports from Northern Ireland to the EU and (b) imports to Northern Ireland from the EU in (i) 2003 and (ii) each of the past 10 years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the value of (a) exports from Wales to the EU and (b) imports to Wales from the EU in (i) 2003 and (ii) in each of the past 10 years;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the value of (a) exports from Scotland to the EU and (b) imports to Scotland from the EU in (i) 2003 and (ii) each of the past 10 years;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the value of (a) exports from England to the EU and (b) imports to England from the EU in (i) 2003 and (ii) each of the past 10 years;
	(5)  what estimate he has made of the value of (a) exports from the UK to the EU and (b) imports to the UK from the EU in (i) 2003 and (ii) each of the past 10 years.

Ruth Kelly: The information is given in the tables:
	
		Imports and exports by country or region -- Estimates of regional trade with the European Union £ million
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003(16) 
		
		
			  Exports to EU   
			 England 70,836 67,937 69,371 71,962 76,613 77,237 80,858 38,460 
			 Wales 4,335 4,171 4,284 4,493 4,884 4,788 4,691 2,361 
			 Scotland 9,327 10,030 11,363 11,141 11,869 9,690 9,291 4,002 
			 Northern Ireland 1,687 1,703 1,766 2,155 2,220 2,294 2,171 1,046 
			  Imports from EU   
			 England 82,070 82,833 85,819 93,076 95,681 99,901 101,763 51,511 
			 Wales 1,334 1,299 1,649 2,005 2,234 1,999 2,376 1,188 
			 Scotland 3,003 3,288 3,204 3,221 3,539 3,008 3,004 1,341 
			 Northern Ireland 1,421 1,435 1,463 1,520 1,712 2,009 2,084 1,006 
		
	
	(16) January to June.
	Notes:
	1. Figures from the Regional Trade Statistics series are only available from 1996.
	2. The sum of the regions will differ from the UK figures published in the OTS, due to timing and coverage differences.
	
		Imports and exports to/from the UK -- UK trade with the European Union £ million
		
			  Exports to EU—UK (OTS)(17) Imports from EU—UK (OTS)(17) 
		
		
			 1993 63,203 66,879 
			 1994 70,397 74,793 
			 1995 89,054 93,003 
			 1996 95,429 99,390 
			 1997 95,372 100,105 
			 1998 95,087 102,337 
			 1999 97,315 105,164 
			 2000 106,877 111,128 
			 2001 109,123 115,359 
			 2002 109,236 120,362 
			 2003(18) 77,882 92,600 
		
	
	(17) Overseas Trade Statistics. These figures may differ from those published in the Regional Trade Statistics series.
	(18) January to September.

European Budget Deficits

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects on the UK economy of (a) budget deficits in (i) Germany and (ii) France and (b) an average euro zone deficit of 3 per cent.

Ruth Kelly: The Pre-Budget Report 2003 (Cm6042) forecast for the UK economy takes full account of economic developments in the euro area.

Financial Services Markets

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the timing of the N2+2 review of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

Ruth Kelly: The Government committed to assessing the impact of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) on competition two years after it came into force in response to the Cruickshank Report on competition in UK banking.
	The review will have three main strands. First, a review of the impact of FSMA on competition. This assessment will be carried out by the Office of Fair Trading. Second, changes to aspects of the FSA's practices and consideration of changes to the Financial Ombudsman Service. The FSA's practices to be examined include the complexity of the FSA's Handbook of Rules and Guidance and its cost-benefit analyses. On the Financial Ombudsman Service, among the issues to be considered are whether Ombudsman decisions should be subject to some form of appeal. The third strand will consider changes to the boundary of regulation, including in respect of advice or information provided by employers to employees about workplace pensions and by Citizens Advice Bureaux and similar advice centres to their clients.
	I expect all the strands of the two-year review of FSMA to be completed within a year (with the possible exception of the scrutiny by the Office of Fair Trading).
	Further information about the two-year review is in the written statement to Parliament that I made on 4 November 2003, Official Report, column 28WS.

Home Equity Release Products

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with consumer groups on the prevention of mis-selling of home equity release products; and what impact the new regulatory structure will have on these efforts;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to improve the collection of Treasury statistics on the number of equity release products taken out each year;
	(3)  what steps are being taken to ensure that the new structure for the regulation of home equity release products allows for the easier collation of statistics on the number of products bought;
	(4)  what plans he has to regulate the valuation of properties for people taking out a home reversion policy.

Ruth Kelly: Mortgage-based equity release plans (lifetime mortgages) will be regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) with effect from 31 October 2004. The FSA has published a consultation paper (CP 197) that sets out proposed reporting requirements for mortgage, insurance and investment firms. Regulated firms will have to provide product sales data regularly, and in particular, firms will be required to report on the type of product sold and the status of the borrower.
	The Government published their consultation document on home reversion plans on 11 November and responses are due to be received by 13 February 2004. The issue of property valuation is discussed in paragraphs 21–23. My officials have met representatives of consumer bodies to discuss these proposals on a number of occasions.

Income Tax

George Stevenson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the additional revenue raised in Stoke-on-Trent by increasing the basic rate of income tax by one pence would be.

Dawn Primarolo: The additional full-year yield of increasing the basic rate of income tax by one pence in Stoke-on-Trent is £7.7 million in 2000–01. This estimate is based upon the 2000–01 Survey of Personal Incomes. The effects of the illustrative changes can be scaled up or down over a reasonably wide range. This result excludes any behavioural response to the tax change.

Income Tax

George Stevenson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the additional revenue raised in Stoke-on-Trent would be if the top rate of income tax were raised to 50 pence in the pound for income over £100,000 per annum.

Dawn Primarolo: Reliable information on this is not available.

Inland Revenue Staff

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the Inland Revenue employees transferred from the International Division in 2000–01 had immediately prior to transfer worked as part of the Advisory/Casework Team within the International Division.

Dawn Primarolo: It would be inappropriate to disclose the information requested as it would facilitate the identification of individual members of staff of the Inland Revenue. Exemption 8(a) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information applies in this case.

Iraq

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Government have spent on (a) the conflict in Iraq and (b) rebuilding the infrastructure in Iraq to date.

Paul Boateng: I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 2.57 of the Pre-Budget Report 2003 (Cm 6042).

National Statistics

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the result was of the Treasury's review of pre-release access to National Statistics First Releases and associated briefing; and what changes to (a) procedures and (b) the list of people having access have resulted from the review.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury has not yet formally completed its review of pre-release access to National Statistics First Releases, but certain changes in procedure have already been put in place.

Penrose Report

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he received (a) a draft copy and (b) the final copy of the Penrose Report into Equitable Life; when he intends to publish the report; and whether the published version will be in its complete form.

Ruth Kelly: Treasury Ministers have not received a draft or a final copy of Lord Penrose's report into Equitable Life. Ministers expect that when Lord Penrose does report, he will provide the final version.
	Ministers intend to publish the report as soon as is reasonably practicable following its receipt.
	Publication will be in full if at all possible.

Pensions

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the net cost to the Exchequer caused by short-falls in final salary occupational pension schemes arising from company insolvency since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Pensions Schemes Registry (PSR), administered by the Occupational Pension Schemes Regulatory Authority (OPRA), holds information on the number of final salary schemes which are currently in the winding-up process and the number of schemes which have entered and completed winding-up. The registry database is, however, limited in a number of ways. Consequently, it does not provide all the information requested, though it nevertheless remains the most comprehensive source of information available on the aggregate number of pension schemes in the UK.
	According to the PSR's most recent data, around 1,400 private sector final salary schemes were in the winding-up process at the beginning of September, and around 4,800 private sector final salary schemes have completed winding-up. The data do not permit any further analysis on whether these schemes have commenced/completed winding-up prior to 1997. It is not possible to split the above by whether they are connected to a solvent or insolvent employer. No alternative data source exists to provide this information.
	There will be a cost to the Exchequer from schemes winding up in deficit, from the loss in income tax receipts on pensions and an increase in income related benefits. As regards estimating the cost to the Exchequer, we have not estimated this due to the above data deficiencies.

Public Expenditure

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Government have budgeted to spend on (a) the reconstruction of Iraq and (b) education in the United Kingdom in 2004.

Paul Boateng: The information is as follows:
	(a) At the International Donor's Conference in Madrid in October, the UK Government committed a total of £544 million to support the reconstruction of Iraq over the three years from April 2003. Of this, £296 million will be for the next two financial years, 2004–05 and 2005–06, including bilateral funds and the UK's share of the proposed EU contribution in Iraq.
	(b) Education expenditure in the UK over a very similar period is forecast to be £190 billion (consisting of £58.6 billion in 2003–04, £62.9 billion in 2004–05 and £68.5 billion in 2005–06).

Public Sector Pensions

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the actuarial liability estimated for the future payment of public sector pensions was in each year from 1997–98 to 2002–03; and what the value was of the funds existing in each year to meet this liability.

Paul Boateng: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury gave to the hon. Member for Aldershot (Mr. Howarth) on 7 January 2003 Official Report, column 172W.

Suicides

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the (a) total number and (b) number per 100,000 population of suicides amongst adult males in (i) England and (ii) each region in each year since 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 15 December 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning the (a) total number and (b) number per 100,000 population of suicides amongst adult males in (i) England and (ii) each region in each year since 1997. (143705)
	The most recent available mortality data are for the calendar year 2002. The attached table gives suicide figures for each year from 1997 to 2002.
	
		Number of deaths and rates(19) from suicide and injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted(20), among adult males(aged 15 years and over) for England and Government Office Regions, 1997-2002(21)
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Number   
			 England 3,477 3,655 3,601 3,387 3,286 3,225 
			 North east 212 181 209 184 157 187 
			 North west 551 608 552 519 498 456 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 419 390 391 322 336 310 
			 East Midlands 276 298 318 311 294 258 
			 West Midlands 342 376 409 367 372 370 
			 East of England 317 366 329 319 335 342 
			 London 493 520 479 453 432 450 
			 South east 528 573 550 547 512 521 
			 South west 339 343 364 365 350 331 
			
			 Rate   
			 England 18.5 19.4 19.0 17.8 16.9 16.5 
			 North east 21.5 18.4 21.3 18.8 15.9 19.0 
			 North west 21.3 23.5 21.4 20.1 18.9 17.5 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 22.0 20.4 20.5 16.8 17.4 15.9 
			 East Midlands 17.1 18.4 19.5 19.0 17.8 15.4 
			 West Midlands 16.8 18.4 20.0 18.0 18.0 17.8 
			 East of England 15.3 17.6 15.7 15.1 15.7 16.0 
			 London 18.8 19.8 17.9 16.7 14.9 15.3 
			 South east 17.2 18.6 17.7 17.5 16.2 16.4 
			 South west 17.9 18.1 19.0 18.9 17.9 16.8 
		
	
	(19) Death rate per 100,000 population
	(20) The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E950-E959 and E980-E989 excluding E988.8 for the years 1990 to 2000, and, for the year 2001 and 2002, the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 and Y10-Y34 excluding Y33.9 where the coroner's verdict was pending.
	(21) Figures are for deaths occurring per calendar year.

Tourism

Roy Beggs: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what definition of tourism he uses for tax purposes.

Dawn Primarolo: There is no definition of "tourism" for tax purposes.

Travel Insurance

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the impact of Financial Services Authority regulation of travel insurance on (a) business and (b) customers.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 11 December 2003
	The Government published a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) on 5 June that covered the costs and benefits of implementing FSA regulation of insurance mediation including travel insurance sold as a standalone product. The RIA is available from the Treasury website www.hm-treasurv.gov.uk.

Traveller Communities

James Paice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures are in place to ensure that members of traveller communities are assessed for income tax and capital gains tax; and what estimate he has made of their level of tax avoidance.

Dawn Primarolo: The Revenue adopts an approach to managing non-compliance whereby resources are deployed on the basis of risk assessment.

Weapons Flown Abroad

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances Customs and Excise seek Civil Aviation Authority approval for flights carrying abroad weapons they have previously confiscated; and how often such approval was sought in respect of flights from Farnborough in 1999.

John Healey: It is the responsibility of the carrier to determine whether or not the carriage of firearms requires approval from the Civil Aviation Authority under the Air Navigation Order 2000 and, if so, to seek such approval. This applies in cases where Customs have released from control any firearms previously detained on arrival into the United Kingdom. Customs do not collect information on such approvals. Their role is confined to releasing the firearms in such a way as to ensure they are retained on board an aircraft under suitably secure conditions until it departs.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Poverty

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the rate of child poverty is in (a) England, (b) the UK and (c) inner London.

Chris Pond: Poverty and social exclusion are complex and multi-dimensional issues, affecting many aspects of peoples' lives-including their living standards, health, housing, the quality of their environment and not just low income. The fifth annual 'Opportunity for all' report (Cm 5956) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and presents information on the indicators used to measure progress against this strategy.
	Specific information regarding low income for Great Britain is available in "Households Below Average Income 1994/95–2001/02".
	All publications listed are available in the Library.

Access to Work Scheme

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Access to Work applicants (a) have applied for sign language interpreting support and (b) have been successful since the introduction of the Access to Work scheme; what the average amount of hours of interpreter support awarded has been; and what the average award to people applying for human aids to communication through the Access to Work scheme has been.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is not routinely collected and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Asbestos

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have died from asbestos-related diseases in the United Kingdom in each year since 1990; and what estimates his Department has made of the number of likely deaths in future years.

Des Browne: The number of deaths in Great Britain due to mesothelioma and asbestosis each year from 1990 is given in the following table. In addition, it is estimated that for each mesothelioma there are one to two lung cancer deaths due to asbestos.
	Death statistics for mesothelioma and asbestosis for Northern Ireland are not included.
	
		Deaths from mesothelioma and asbestosis 1990–2001
		
			  Mesothelioma Asbestosis  
		
		
			 1990 895 100 
			 1991 1,023 113 
			 1992 1,097 91 
			 1993 1,152 112 
			 1994 1,246 116 
			 1995 1,317 109 
			 1996 1,322 137 
			 1997 1,367 129 
			 1998 1,541 123 
			 1999 1,615 121 
			 2000 (22)1,631 140 
			 2001 (22)1,848 158 
		
	
	(22) Provisional.
	Source:
	HSE mesothelioma and asbestosis registers.
	Statistical modelling has been used to estimate the future peak number of mesothelioma deaths among both males and females. The annual total number of mesothelioma deaths in Great Britain is expected to peak at around 1,950 to 2,450 deaths some time between 2,011 and 2,015. It is estimated that the ratio of one to two of the number of asbestos-related lung cancers to the number of mesotheliomas will decrease slightly over time. No estimates have been made of the likely deaths in future years due to asbestosis.

Assaults on Staff

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) physical and (b) non-physical assaults there have been on staff in the (i) Employment Service, (ii) Benefits Agency and (iii) Jobcentre Plus in each year since 2001; how many prosecutions resulted; what penalties were handed down; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.

Benefits/Pensions

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the (a) nature and (b) quality of the advice issued by his Department under the Payment Modernisation Project.

Chris Pond: The Department's information campaign, to support the move to Direct Payment, provides customers with factual information on the banking options available to them, including information on the Post Office card account.
	This information campaign has been produced in consultation with the Post Office and a range of other stakeholders.
	Customer information material is tested on groups of customers before it is issued. This helps to ensure that customers are supplied with all the information they need to choose the account option that is right for them and that they can understand that information.
	The Department will continue to monitor and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of its customer information material and will make further changes if necessary. Our own internal monitoring suggests that our information material is working well and customers are choosing from all of the account options available to them.

Benefits/Pensions

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many customers have (a) made enquiries about the Post Office card account, (b) received invitations to open an account as a result and (c) opened such an account.

Chris Pond: Key figures on the progress of conversion to Direct Payment are available in the Library, updated every four weeks. Information regarding the number of Post Office card accounts opened is a matter that falls within the responsibilities of Post Office Ltd. (POL).

Benefits/Pensions

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much benefit he estimates was fraudulently claimed by claimants using false identities in 2002–03.

Chris Pond: The Cabinet Office Study on Identity Fraud published in July 2002 estimated that between £20 and £50 million annually of benefit fraud was a result of benefit claims using false identities.
	This estimate remains valid.

Benefits/Pensions

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of payments in each category of benefit were paid by order book in each region of the UK for the most recent available period.

Chris Pond: The figures in the table have been compiled from data available on 1 November 2003 and show the percentage of accounts paid by Order book, broken down by benefit and Government Office Region.
	
		Percentage
		
			 Benefit North East North West Yorkshire and Humberside East Midlands West Midlands East of England 
		
		
			 Attendance Allowance (AA) 37.97 30.59 32.31 32.80 36.62 28.67 
			 Bereavement Benefit (BB) 33.59 31.18 30.43 23.40 28.32 18.35 
			 Disability Living Allowance (DLA) 57.81 53.28 53.00 50.01 53.99 44.45 
			 Incapacity Benefit (IB) 63.01 58.35 55.90 52.25 53.86 47.40 
			 Carer's Allowance (CA) 79.77 75.62 75.45 71.61 74.65 66.44 
			 Industrial Injuries (II) 63.77 62.08 69.76 64.19 67.32 65.72 
			 Income Support (IS) 76.14 71.60 71.82 68.47 70.56 64.70 
			 Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) 0.00  0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Pension Credit (PC) 79.06 75.67 76.37 73.54 77.27 70.80 
			 State Pension (SP) 56.60 50.16 50.87 47.50 48.38 39.23 
			 Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) 67.33 64.33 64.37 61.05 62.59 54.76 
			 Widows Benefit (WB) 59.62 54.15 53.32 48.09 51.70 41.06 
			 Total for All Benefits 60.37 55.33 55.18 51.56 53.59 44.63 
		
	
	
		Percentage
		
			 Benefit London South East South West Wales Scotland 
		
		
			 Attendance Allowance (AA) 36.98 27.68 30.29 37.28 37.45 
			 Bereavement Benefit (BB) 26.78 17.44 20.63 33.39 30.96 
			 Disability Living Allowance (DLA) 48.13 42.88 45.57 55.89 54.50 
			 Incapacity Benefit (IB) 53.87 47.44 48.15 61.86 62.36 
			 Carer's Allowance (CA) 71.06 65.65 66.51 76.11 76.07 
			 Industrial Injuries (II) 56.11 50.71 64.47 77.82 69.45 
			 Income Support (IS) 68.52 63.07 64.16 73.80 71.40 
			 Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Pension Credit (PC) 70.75 66.32  79.27 77.30 
			 State Pension (SP) 38.23 35.21 41.41 59.43 48.97 
			 Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) 60.22 53.43 56.84 68.51 61.57 
			 Widows Benefit (WB) 46.70 37.75 42.34 59.34 55.27 
			 Total for All Benefits 46.96 40.89 46.14 61.10 55.27 
		
	
	Notes
	1. Figures relate to payload and not caseload therefore if a claimant is receiving more than one benefit e.g. Pension Credit (PC) and State Pension (SP) but only receives one combined payment through the PC system they will only be shown as having a Pension Credit account and not a State Pension account.
	2. Figures quoted are for GB only.

Benefits/Pensions

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the evidential basis is for the claim in his Department's internal memorandum from the Project Manager for the Payment Modernisation Programme, that paying pensions through Post Office accounts costs 30 times as much as through bank accounts.

Chris Pond: The internal memorandum states costs are at least 30 times more for making payments into a Post Office card account than into a bank account. This statement is on the basis that, whereas the financial institutions meet the operating costs of providing their bank accounts, the Government pay additional costs to the Post Office for the provision of the Post Office card account services.

Benefits/Pensions

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will disregard the proposed Child Trust Fund in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit assessments for claimants over the age of 16.

Chris Pond: We are considering the precise impact on benefits; however, at present, the general principle is that no account is taken of capital held in trust funds until a young person has access to it.
	We are aware of concerns about what would happen when Child Trust Funds are realised when young people reach age 18. We said in the pre-Budget report that we will keep under review the treatment of capital in income related working age benefits so that it strikes a sensible balance between providing targeted state support and not unfairly penalising those who have acted responsibly by saving.

Big Conversation

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House of Commons on 9 December 2003, Official Report, column 355W.

Carers Allowance

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people (a) over and (b) under 65 were entitled to carers allowance but did not receive payment in each (i) Scottish constituency and (ii) local authority area in the last year for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: Information on the numbers of people in Scotland entitled to carers allowance, but not receiving payment due to the overlapping benefit regulations, is in the tables.
	
		People in Scottish local authorities who were entitled to carers allowance but were not receiving payment on 31 May 2003
		
			  May 2003 
			 Local authorities All Under 65 65 and over 
		
		
			  
			  
			 All 15,155 8,665 6,490 
			 Aberdeen City 350 205 150 
			 Aberdeenshire 350 210 140 
			 Angus 330 150 185 
			 Argyll and Bute 155 95 60 
			 Scottish Borders, The 250 130 120 
			 Clackmannanshire 150 90 60 
			 West Dunbartonshire (previously Dumbarton and Clydeback) 455 215 240 
			 Dumfries and Galloway 505 275 225 
			 Dundee City 720 320 400 
			 East Ayrshire 430 250 185 
			 East Dunbartonshire 205 120 85 
			 East Lothian 250 135 115 
			 East Renfrewshire 135 80 55 
			 Edinburgh, City Of 790 450 340 
			 Falkirk 380 210 170 
			 Fife 730 450 280 
			 Glasgow City 2,615 1,575 1,040 
			 Highland 470 285 185 
			 Inverclyde 300 195 105 
			 Midlothian 210 125 85 
			 Moray 170 95 75 
			 North Ayrshire 385 250 135 
			 North Lanarkshire 1,215 790 425 
			 Orkney Islands 25 15 10 
			 Perth and Kinross (previously Perthshire and Kinross) 320 155 165 
			 Renfrewshire 490 285 205 
			 Shetland Islands 25 20 5 
			 South Ayrshire 365 195 165 
			 South Lanarkshire 1,255 755 500 
			 Stirling 215 135 80 
			 West Lothian 840 365 475 
			 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (previously Western Isles) 80 45 35 
		
	
	
		People in Scottish parliamentary constituencies who were entitled to carers allowance but were not receiving a paymentas at 31 May 2003
		
			  May 2003 
			 Parliamentary constituencies All Under 65 65 and over 
		
		
			  
			  
			 All 15,155 8,665 6,490 
			 Aberdeen Central 95 50 45 
			 Aberdeen North 150 90 60 
			 Aberdeen South 105 60 45 
			 Airdrie and Shotts 335 220 115 
			 Angus 220 100 120 
			 Argyll and Bute 115 70 45 
			 Ayr 210 115 95 
			 Banff and Buchan 185 115 70 
			 Caithness Sunderland and Easter Ross 145 95 50 
			 Carrick Cumnock and Doon Valley 345 200 145 
			 Central Fife 190 120 75 
			 Clydebank and Milngavie 275 135 140 
			 Clydesdale 370 220 145 
			 Coatbridge and Chryston 290 175 110 
			 Cumbernauld and Kilsyth 175 120 55 
			 Cunninghame North 175 115 60 
			 Cunninghame South 205 135 75 
			 Dumbarton 250 120 130 
			 Dumfries 280 160 115 
			 Dundee East 335 145 190 
			 Dundee West 385 175 210 
			 Dunfermline East 140 100 40 
			 Dunfermline West 120 75 45 
			 East Kilbride 265 135 130 
			 East Lothian 210 115 95 
			 Inverclyde 300 195 105 
			 Midlothian 210 125 85 
			 Moray 170 95 75 
			 North Ayrshire 385 250 135 
			 North Lanarkshire 1,215 790 425 
			 Orkney Islands 25 15 10 
			 Perth and Kinross (previously Perthshire and Kinross) 320 155 165 
			 Renfrewshire 490 285 205 
			 Shetland Islands 25 20 5 
			 South Ayrshire 365 195 165 
			 South Lanarkshire 1,255 755 500 
			 Stirling 215 135 80 
			 West Lothian 840 365 475 
			 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (previously Western Isles) 80 45 35

Child Support Agency

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will write to the hon. Member for Wycombe about the Child Support Agency with reference to the debate in Westminster Hall on 12 November.

Chris Pond: A letter was sent to the hon. Member for Wycombe on 3 December 2003.

Child Support Agency

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the implications of the appeal by Helena Smith against the Child Support Agency.

Chris Pond: The period for appeal against the decision has not yet expired. However, the Agency is issuing guidance to its staff to assist them in handling inquiries arising from the decision.

Child Support Agency

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what account the Child Support Agency takes of court orders when assessing the level of maintenance to be paid by non-resident parents; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: Where an application to the Child Support Agency is made as a result of a parent with care claiming a relevant benefit, any court order for the child concerned is cancelled.
	Under the new child support scheme, in non-benefit cases either parent can choose to use the services of the Agency even though they may have a court order. In such cases the court order is cancelled. The new provisions only apply to court orders made on or after 3 March 2003 and provided that the order has been in place for at least a year.
	Court orders for other children may be taken into account when the Agency determines a non-resident parent's liability for child support maintenance.

Child Support Payments (North-west)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of families are entitled to child support payments in (a) St. Helens, (b) Merseyside and (c) the North West region in the last year for which figures are available.

Chris Pond: The information is in the table.
	
		Number and proportion of families entitled to Child Support payments at 30 November 2002
		
			  Number of families (Thousand) Total number of Child Benefit families (Thousand) Proportion of families entitled to Child Support payments (%) 
		
		
			 St. Helens 4.6 22.1 20.9 
			 Merseyside 32.9 173.6 18.9 
			 North West 148.3 848.1 17.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. CSA figures include all full maintenance assessment cases only and include direct pay cases and zero assessments.
	2. CSA figures produced using IAD 5 per cent. scan of Child Support Computer System (CSCS) and therefore may be subject to sampling variation.
	3. Figures are in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	4. As a family can occasionally be part of more than one CSA case (when a parent with care has children by more than one non-resident parent) these figures represent a small over-estimate.
	5. The proportion of families entitled to Child Support payments is derived by comparing the number of CSA cases with the number of families in receipt of Child Benefit.

Council Tax Benefit

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the number of pensioners eligible for council tax benefit in Blackpool.

Chris Pond: I regret that the information is not available in the format requested.
	Statistics for Great Britain are presented in the DWP series "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up". The latest estimates relate to financial year 2000–01 and are in the Library.

Disability Living Allowance

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in (a) City of Edinburgh local authority area, (b) the Edinburgh West parliamentary constituency, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK are in receipt of (i) the middle rate of disability living allowance care component, (ii) the higher rate of disability living allowance care component and (iii) the higher rate of the disability living allowance mobility component.

Maria Eagle: The breakdown by area and component of disability living allowance received is outlined in the tables:
	
		DLA by local authority as at 31 May 2003 -- Thousand
		
			 Edinburgh LA  
		
		
			 All 18.5 
			 Highest rate care and higher rate mobility 3.0 
			 Highest rate care and lower rate mobility 0.9 
			 Highest rate care only *0.3 
			 Middle rate care and higher rate mobility 3.0 
			 Middle rate care and lower rate mobility 2.3 
			 Middle rate care only 0.6 
			 Lowest rate care and higher rate mobility 1.9 
			 Lowest rate care and lower rate mobility 1.0 
			 Lowest rate care only 1.3 
			 Higher rate mobility only 3.3 
			 Lower rate mobility only 0.9 
		
	
	
		DLA by parliamentary constituency as at 31 May 2003 -- Thousand
		
			 Edinburgh WestParliamentary constituency 
		
		
			 All 2.6 
			 Higher rate care and higher rate mobility *0.3 
			 Higher rate care and lower rate mobility *0.1 
			 Higher rate care only *0.1 
			 Middle rate care and higher rate mobility *0.4 
			 Middle rate care and lower rate mobility *0.4 
			 Middle rate care only *0.1 
			 Lower rate care and higher rate mobility *0.3 
			 Lower rate care and lower rate mobility *0.2 
			 Lower rate care only *0.2 
			 Higher rate mobility only *0.4 
			 Lower rate mobility only *0.1 
		
	
	
		DLA by government office region as at 31 May 2003 -- Thousand
		
			  GB Scotland 
		
		
			 All 2,497.6 277.7 
			 Highest rate care and higher rate mobility 378.1 44.3 
			 Highest rate care and lower rate mobility 110.3 12.9 
			 Highest rate care only 41.2 3.6 
			 Middle rate care and higher rate mobility 367.3 45.2 
			 Middle rate care and lower rate mobility 286.5 33.0 
			 Middle rate care only 102.6 8.8 
			 Lowest rate care and higher rate mobility 342.1 34.5 
			 Lowest rate care and lower rate mobility 107.5 12.6 
			 Lowest rate care only 187.9 17.1 
			 Higher rate mobility only 469.9 54.3 
			 Lower rate mobility only 104.1 11.5 
		
	
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent.
	Sample
	Figures are in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	Figures marked * are less than 500 and subject to a high degree of sampling variation. From November 2002, the methodology for producing these figures was changed to allow statistics to be published much sooner. This has resulted in a small increase in the reported caseload. This is because some cases which have actually terminated but have not yet been updated on the computer system are now included.

Disability Living Allowance

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were found to be fraudulently claiming the disability living allowance in (a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002.

Maria Eagle: Information on Disability Living Allowance fraud investigations is recorded by financial year rather than calendar year. The available information is in the table:
	
		
			 Year DLA Fraud investigations which resulted in a change in the rate of benefit and/or an overpayment 
		
		
			 April 2000-March 2001 1,546 
			 April 2000-March 2002 1,381 
			 April 2000-March 2003 1,275 
		
	
	Source:
	DLA Fraud Database

Fareham Jobcentre

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many staff are located at the former jobcentre premises at 187–199 West Street, Fareham;
	(2)  what the (a) annual rental and (b) unexpired lease period is of the former jobcentre premises at 187–199 West Street, Fareham;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the future use by the Department of the former jobcentre premises at 187–199 West Street, Fareham.

Des Browne: holding answer 11 December 2003
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.

Gifts of Cash

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to issue guidance that small gifts of cash to relatives under the age of 18 will be exempted from the Pension Credit and Income Support deprivation of capital requirements.

Malcolm Wicks: As with all the income related benefits, someone may be treated as having capital they do not actually have if they deliberately deprive themselves of the resource to secure or increase entitlement to Pension Credit, but it is not necessarily the case that they will be. The main purpose of this is to guard against people giving away capital with the intention of increasing benefit entitlement.
	In addition, in Pension Credit people will not be treated as depriving themselves of capital if they have used their resources to reduce or repay a debt (for example, a mortgage), or to buy something which was reasonable in their circumstances (for example, a car). This is part of normal financial planning which people age 60 and over may undertake, particularly on retirement.
	Guidance provides that decisions must be made in the light of the circumstances of each case and the considerable body of case-law which has developed on similarly worded provisions.

Guaranteed Minimum Pension

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what steps the Government have taken since May 1997 to ensure that members of final salary pension schemes were made aware of risks to their accrued pension rights upon employer insolvency and scheme wind-up;
	(2)  what the Government's policy is on advising existing pension scheme members of risks to their pension rights as a consequence of employer insolvency.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government encourage anyone considering joining or leaving a pension scheme to obtain as much information as possible about the options open to them and to seek independent financial advice. As well as highlighting further sources of information, leaflets published by the Pensions Service provide basic information on occupational pensions for people to use as they decide the best way in which to provide for their retirement. Similar information aimed at pension providers is published by the Inland Revenue.
	Occupational pension schemes are provided voluntarily by employers and the trustees are required as a minimum to make funding information available to members as part of the annual report. It is the responsibility of employers and scheme trustees to monitor how scheme assets compare with scheme liabilities and take whatever action is required to address any funding shortfall, working within the legislative framework provided by the Government. To reduce the risks to members' accrued pension rights as a consequence of employer insolvency, the Government is introducing the new Pension Protection Fund. The introduction of new scheme-specific funding requirements will raise member awareness and understanding by requiring that trustees send regularly updated information to scheme members each year, containing key information about the funding position of their scheme.

Housing Benefit

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average cost was in 2002–03 of housing benefit payments made to (a) council tenants, (b) tenants of registered social landlords and (c) private tenants.

Chris Pond: The information is in the table.
	
		Average weekly HB by tenure in Great Britain 2002–03
		
			 Tenure Average weekly housing benefit (£) 
		
		
			 Local authority 47.00 
			 Registered social landlord 63.90 
			 Private (excluding registered social landlord) 71.40 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The data refers to benefit households claiming housing benefit, which may be a single person or a couple or a family. More than one benefit household can live in one property, for example two or more adults in a flat or house share arrangement.
	2. The average amounts have been rounded to the nearest 10 pence.
	3. Figures for any non-responding authorities have been estimated.
	4. Figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.
	5. The figures are averages taken from the four quarters May, August, November 2002 and February 2003.
	Source:
	Housing benefit and council tax benefit Management Information System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in May, August, November 2002 and February 2003.

Income Support/Jobseeker's Allowance

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money was claimed in (a) income support and (b) jobseeker's allowance between October 2001 and September 2002.

Chris Pond: The information is in the table.
	
		Amount of income support and jobseeker's allowance paid out between October 2001 and September 2002
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 Income support 9,640 
			 Jobseeker's allowance 2,260 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 million
	2. The income support figure is for income support paid to people under 60 years of age. Persons over 60 years of age were paid the minimum income guarantee
	Source:
	In-year Monitoring of Benefit Expenditure Reports

Jobcentre Plus

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for the development of a Jobcentre Plus office in Gosport.

Des Browne: holding answer 10 December 2003
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Peter Viggers, dated 15 December 2003
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question about the development of Jobcentre Plus in Gosport. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
	Jobcentre Plus has been established to deliver a radical change in the way that benefits and employment services are provided to people of working age. By 2006, we plan to introduce a network of around 1,000 fully integrated Jobcentre Plus offices.
	Through the development of these new modern offices, Jobcentre Plus will provide an integrated, work-focused service to all people of working age. The introduction of work-focused interviews is extending the opportunity to more people to take advantage of the help, guidance and support we can provide to assist them to move into sustainable employment. We are also introducing new services for employers, which will help them fill vacancies more quickly with well-prepared and motivated employees.
	The Jobcentre Plus Implementation Programme for Hampshire commenced in June 2002. Early on in the process, it became apparent that, for Gosport, the existing Jobcentre premises in South Street would not be suitable for the delivery of the new Jobcentre Plus services.
	Following a lengthy search and subsequent negotiations, suitable premises have now been secured. Work to convert and refurbish the site, situated next to the Iceland store in Walpole Road, commenced Monday 1 December, with the new office, which will offer the full range of Jobcentre Plus services, due to open in May 2004. While the work is in progress, the existing Jobcentre in South Street, together with the Social Security Office in the High Street will continue to operate as normal. In May 2004, following the opening of the new office, the existing Jobcentre in South Street will close. In addition to the new premises in Walpole Road, the Social Security Office will continue to offer access to the Social Fund and issue counter payments to customers.
	I hope this is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will answer the letter from the hon. Member for Isle of Wight of 14 October 2003 about Jobcentre Plus jobs on the Isle of Wight.

Des Browne: holding answer 9 December 2003
	I regret we have no record of the hon. Member's letter. If he would send a copy to me I will arrange for it to be considered urgently.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Jobseeker's Allowance claimants are signed up for further education courses for less than 16 hours; and what plans he has to extend the hours of coursework acceptable within his Department's guidelines.

Des Browne: holding answer 9 December 2003
	Information about the number of jobseekers who are engaged in part-time courses for less than 16 hours a week is not routinely collected and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	People in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance can undertake part-time learning provided they are available for and actively seeking work and have a valid Jobseeker's Agreement which takes their learning into consideration. We have no plans to extend the number of hours that are regarded as part-time learning.
	The Social Security system is not intended to finance education—this is a matter for the educational authorities and the Department for Education and Skills. Most students engaged in full-time education are not entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance.
	Jobcentre Plus has a wide range of programmes, such as the New Deals and Work Based Learning for Adults (in England), to help jobseekers gain the skills they need to help them find work. For people who wish to pursue full-time learning, there are various Adult Learning funding options available through the Department for Education and Skills.

Late Payment of Debt

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for statutory interest payments have been submitted to his Department under the terms of the Late Payment of Debt Act 1998; how many claims were met; and what the total value was of such payments in each year since the Act has been in operation.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, South (Nigel Griffiths) on 3 December 2003, Official Report, column 102W.

Legislation

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation sponsored by his Department in 2002–03 was introduced to implement EU requirements.

Chris Pond: The Department did not sponsor any primary legislation during the 2002–03 Session (13 November 2002–20 November 2003).
	The Department was responsible for the making of 97 General Statutory Instruments during the 2002–03 Session (including 11 from the Health and Safety Executive), some of which consolidated and revoked previous instruments. 9.27 per cent. of the total (nine Statutory Instruments, including seven from the Health and Safety Executive) give effect to EU requirements.

Local Authorities

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Government will issue the new regulations for payment and associated operations for (a) council tax benefit and (b) housing benefit by local authorities; and whether local authorities will be fully reimbursed by his Department for payments made under these benefits.

Chris Pond: We have recently conducted a review of the Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Benefit (CTB) subsidy rules and rates. Details of the new rules and rates, which are clearer and simpler to administer, were issued to all local authorities in HB/CTB Circular S9/2003, a copy of which is in the Library. Local authorities will be fully reimbursed for all correctly paid HB and CTB.
	The Income-related Benefits (Subsidy to Authorities) Order 1998 (S11998 No 562) and amendments provide the legislative basis of subsidy payments to authorities. The new rules and rates will be incorporated in an amendment to this Order which will be laid, in accordance with the normal practice, after the end of the 2004–05 year.

Ministerial Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will give a substantive reply to the letter of 23 October 2003 from the hon. Member for Walsall North, ref. PQ/03/400456.

Maria Eagle: I replied to the hon. Member today.

New Deal for Disabled People

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people in the Wycombe constituency have (a) been registered and (b) found work under the New Deal for Disabled People this year;
	(2)  what organisations have helped to (a) register and (b) find work for people in the Wycombe constituency under the terms of the New Deal for Disabled People; and how many people each organisation has helped in each category.

Des Browne: Information about New Deal for Disabled People performance is not available by constituency.
	There are four Job Brokers delivering New Deal for Disabled People in the Wycombe constituency: Support Shop Ltd.; Yes2Work; Shaw Trust; and Scout Enterprises (Western).
	The latest national performance statistics are that, between July 2001 and September 2003, over 57,000 disabled people registered to find work; over 15,500 found work; and over 5,900 achieved sustained employment.
	Notes:
	1. Overall Performance and Resource Agreement (PRA) job entries in life of programme total over 20,000.
	2. Sustained employment is defined as where a person remains in work for six months or more.
	Source:
	DWP statistics.

Parents with Care

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of Child Support Agency parents with care were in receipt of (a) income-based jobseeker's allowance and income support and (b) working families tax credit in each of the last six years.

Chris Pond: The information is in the table.
	
		Benefit status of Parent/Person with Care
		
			   Income Support JSA(IB) Family Credit WFTC 
			 February Total Thousands % Thousands % Thousands % Thousands % 
		
		
			 1998 662.0 300.0 45.3 8.2 1.2 128.6 19.4 — — 
			 1999 826.8 356.8 43.2 9.6 1.2 171.2 20.7 — — 
			 2000 946.3 385.2 40.7 13.1 1.4 26.5 2.8 192.0 20.3 
			 2001 998.5 393.3 39.4 10.8 1.1 — — 244.6 24.5 
			 2002 1,031.8 383.0 37.1 9.2 0.9 — — 261.8 25.4 
			 2003 957.4 355.6 37.1 6.9 0.7 — — 278.4 29.1 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All data taken from the published Quarterly Summary Statistics for the Child Support Agency.
	2. The figures are based on a 5 per cent. scan of CSCS and therefore may be subject to sampling variation.
	3. PWC benefit status derived using data on the IS, JSA and Family Credit/WFTC computer systems.
	4. The figures are for cases with a full maintenance assessment.
	5. The figures are for the February quarter because this is the latest point for consistent CSA data and data for WFTC.

Pension Credit

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether pension credit applications can also indicate whether an entitlement to council tax benefit exists; and whether this information is passed to the (a) council tax benefit authority and (b) applicant for pension credit.

Malcolm Wicks: The Pension Credit application process alerts customers to the possibility of entitlement to housing benefit and council tax benefit and enables them to ask for a claim form for completion and return to the appropriate local authority. Entitlement to the guarantee credit element of Pension Credit provides linked entitlement to full housing benefit and council tax benefit. Information about Pension Credit awards is provided automatically to local authorities to enable them to determine entitlement to housing benefit and council tax benefit. Notification to customers about entitlement to housing benefit and council tax benefit is the responsibility of the appropriate local authority.

Pension Credit

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the additional cost of halving the assumed rate of income currently used to assess pension credit applications.

Malcolm Wicks: The additional cost of halving the assumed rate of income currently used to assess pension credit applications is estimated to be £220 million.
	Notes:
	1. Figure is rounded to the nearest £10 million.
	2. Estimates relate to the year 2004–05.

Pensioner Poverty

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will update the table submitted by his Department to the Committee of Public Accounts and published in the 12th Report of Session 2002–03 on tackling pensioner poverty, Ev.20, setting out expenditure and out-turn for income support for the elderly and minimum income guarantee, to include figures for 2002–03.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is given in the following table updated with 2002–03 figures.
	
		Income support for elderly/minimum income guarantee-expenditure and out-turn -- £ million cash
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
			 Departmental report cash or resource basis Cash Cash Cash Cash Resource Resource 
		
		
			 Provision 3,878 3,776 3,827 4,052 4,540 4,275 
			 Actual spending 3,773 3,619 3,781 3,984 4,486 4,481 
			 Under (-)/over () spend -105 -157 -47 -68 -55 +206 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Numbers may not sum due to rounding.
	2. 2000–01 plans were on a cash basis, published out-turn on a resource basis. To ensure consistency we have quoted the unpublished cash out-turn.
	3. 2002–03 actual spending is an expected out-turn figure which was published at Budget 2003.The final out-turn figure will be published shortly in the Department for Work and Pensions Resource Accounts.

Post Office Card Account

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what monitoring takes place of the standard of response to telephone calls to his Department by claimants seeking to open Post Office Card Accounts.

Chris Pond: holding answer 8 December 2003
	The standard of responses to telephone calls received by the Customer Conversion Centre (CCC) is subject to quality assurance monitoring, in keeping with industry practice, to ensure that agreed service standards are maintained.
	All calls to the CCC are recorded and a selection of the calls are evaluated on a weekly basis.

Unemployment

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many economically inactive people of working age were seeking employment in each year between 1992 and 2002; how many workless households there were in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Nick Gibb, dated 15 December 2003
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about economically inactive people of working age seeking employment and the number of workless households. (143132)
	The attached table gives the information requested for the three month periods ending May each year. These estimates are from the Labour Force Survey (LFS).
	Economically inactive people seeking employment are not classified as unemployed in the United Kingdom statistics unless, following the International Labour Organisation guidelines, they are also available to start work within the two weeks following their LFS interview. The figures shown in the table are for the group of people who stated they were not available to start work within that period.
	A workless household is a household that includes at least one person of working age where no-one present is in employment.
	The LFS is a sample survey and, as with any sample survey, the estimates are subject to sampling variability.
	
		United Kingdom Thousands
		
			 March to May Economically inactive people of working age(23) seeking employment (seasonally adjusted) Number of workless households (not seasonally adjusted) 
		
		
			 1992 — 3,043 
			 1993 274 3,283 
			 1994 227 3,391 
			 1995 237 3,446 
			 1996 183 3,444 
			 1997 205 3,271 
			 1998 217 3,237 
			 1999 212 3,158 
			 2000 189 3,070 
			 2001 194 3,063 
			 2002 183 3,133 
			 2003 197 3,043 
		
	
	(23) Men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59.
	— Due to questionnaire routing error, figures for 1992 are incorrect and therefore are not shown.
	Those for workless households have not yet been subject to this adjustment.
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey (ONS)

Winter Fuel Payment

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate how many single (a) women and (b) men in 2003 will reach the age of 60 years after the qualifying week for Winter Fuel Payment eligibility, but before 25 December.

Malcolm Wicks: It is estimated that around 23,000 single women and 18,000 single men will reach the age of 60 after the qualifying week of 15 to 21 September 2003 but before 25 December 2003 in Great Britain.
	We estimate around 11.5 million people will be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment this winter and 11,316,111 payments have been issued to date.
	Notes: 1. The figures have been calculated using the latest GAD population projections and the 2001 Census data. 2. Those recorded by the Census as being widowed or divorced have been included as being single. 3. The figure for entitlement should not be used to calculate take-up: It is an estimate and therefore subject to margins of error, the number of recipients will rise as late claims are processed.

Winter Fuel Payment

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate how many single (a) women and (b) men in 2003 will reach the age of 80 years after the qualifying week for the 80+ Winter Fuel Payment eligibility, but before 25 December.

Malcolm Wicks: It is estimated that around 36,000 single women and 12,000 single men will reach the age of 80 after the qualifying week of 15 to 21 September 2003 but before 25 December 2003 in Great Britain.
	We estimate over two million people in Great Britain will be eligible for the 80+ Annual Payment this winter and almost all have received their extra entitlement with their Winter Fuel Payment.
	Notes:
	1. The figures have been calculated using the latest GAD population projections and the 2001 Census data.
	2. Those recorded by the Census as being widowed or divorced have been included as being single.
	3. Virtually all cases aged over 79 will be in receipt of State Retirement Pension, or another DWP benefit, and will therefore be paid automatically.

TRANSPORT

End of Life Vehicles Directive

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are being implemented to prevent the Continuous Registration system of cars being circumvented, with regard to the End of Life Vehicles Directive.

David Jamieson: The End of Life Vehicles Directive requires member states among other thing, to put in place measures to ensure that end of life vehicles are disposed of cleanly. In most cases initially, this will be by vehicle keepers and after 2007, by producers.
	The purpose of continuous registration is to maintain an accurate vehicle register entry for every vehicle in use. In the event that it is disposed of by scrapping, the last keeper will be issued with a certificate of destruction by the DVLA. Under continuous registration the keeper is continuously responsible for licensing or declaring a Statutory Off Road Notice on their vehicle every year until transfer to another keeper or disposal.

A449

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the timetable for improving the safety of the A449 between Claines Roundabout and Ombersley.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency will be conducting a safety study on this section of the A449 within the next three months to develop a package of measures to improve safety. Any recommendations from this study will be added to the programme of safety improvements.

Aircraft (Pollution)

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of technological improvements in aircraft which will be available to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide by 2010.

Tony McNulty: The Government keep abreast of emissions technology developments and future prospects through direct contact with the industry and through international regulatory discussions. Significant advances are forecast for reducing emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) for engines due to enter service before 2010.
	In the context of air quality assessment work supporting decisions to be announced in the forthcoming White Paper, DfT has examined emissions technology developments out as far as 2020.

Aircraft Noise

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which areas he expects would be affected by aircraft noise following the possible construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Tony McNulty: The areas that would be affected are set out in Chapter 7 of the consultation document "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East, Second Edition", published in February 2003, pages 56 and 57.

Aircraft Noise

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the level of increase in noise that residents living under and around the flight path would experience following the possible construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

Tony McNulty: The level of increase in noise would depend on the distance of individual residents from the proposed runway and its flight paths and the level of other existing noise sources. Illustrative noise contours, and the areas and populations contained within them at 3dBA intervals from 54dBA Leq up to 72dBA Leq are set out in Chapter 7 of the consultation document, "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East, Second Edition", published in February 2003, pages 56 and 57.

Aircraft Noise

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he would take to mitigate the effects of aircraft noise on residents living under or around the flight path if a third runway at Heathrow Airport was constructed.

Tony McNulty: We asked for views on noise mitigation and compensation measures in Chapter 16 of the consultation document, "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East, Second Edition", published in February 2003, pages 144 to 149. Having considered the responses carefully, we will set out our conclusions in the White Paper to be published shortly.

Aircraft Noise

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the expected noise impact of a third runway at Heathrow Airport would breach the limitations on noise set out in the package of measures imposed by the Inspector for the Terminal 5 Inquiry as a condition for construction of a fifth terminal.

Tony McNulty: The planning conditions for construction of Terminal 5, which were imposed by my right hon. Friend the Member for Tyneside, North (Mr. Byers) included a restriction, to apply from 2016, on the area enclosed by the 57dBA Leq 16-hour (0700–2300) noise contour to 145 square kilometres. Information illustrating the likely noise impact of a third runway was set out in Chapter 7 of the consultation document, "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East, Second Edition", published in February 2003, page 56.

Aircraft Noise

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether aircraft using the proposed third runway at Heathrow Airport would be permitted to take off and land during the night.

Tony McNulty: Restrictions on night movements at Heathrow will be decided in the light of periodic consultations on that issue.

Aircraft Noise

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department is taking to reduce the level of noise pollution caused by (a) aircraft flying into and out of Heathrow airport (b) surface access routes into and out of Heathrow airport; and whether these measures would be affected by a further runway.

Tony McNulty: Noise from aircraft flying into and out of Heathrow airport is regulated by Notices made under section 78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982. These include night restrictions, departure noise limits, noise preferential routes and approach procedures. Noise from surface access modes is treated essentially as for those sources on non-airport routes or journeys. The noise implications of a further runway at Heathrow were set out in the consultation on the "Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom (South East)".

Aircraft Noise

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total (a) area and (b) population affected by aircraft noise was within (i) 57 Leq Contour, (ii) 63 Leq Contour and (iii) 69 Leq Contour and above at (A) Gatwick, (B) Stansted and (C) City airports in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The information for Gatwick and Stansted airports is provided in the following tables. London City airport produces maps showing the 57dBA Leq contour and 60dBA Leq contour but the information is not available in the form requested.
	
		Gatwick airport
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			  Area (sq. kms) within:
			 57 Leq contour 76.8 71.4 71.9 55.9 45.2 
			 63 Leq contour 28.2 26.4 26.4 19.6 15.8 
			 69 Leq contour 9.7 8.9 9.0 6.0 4.6 
			  Population (thousand) within: 
			 57 Leq contour 9.0 7.8 8.7 5.2 3.5 
			 63 Leq contour 1.4 1.4 1.4 0.8 0.5 
			 69 Leq contour 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 
		
	
	
		Stansted airport
		
			  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			  Area (sq. kms) within:
			 57 Leq contour 64.5 52.3 52.4 32.1 31.7 
			 63 Leq contour 22.3 20.5 20.4 11.6 11.3 
			 69 Leq contour 8.7 7.9 7.6 3.6 3.4 
			  Population (thousand) within: 
			 57 Leq contour 7.6 4.4 5.7 2.3 2.0 
			 63 Leq contour 1.3 1.4 1.3 0.4 0.3 
			 69 Leq contour 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1

Airports

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what comparison he has made of the noise impact upon local residents of (a) the proposal to construct a third runway at Heathrow Airport and (b) other proposals for airport expansion in the South East.

Tony McNulty: The data to inform such comparison are set out in Chapters 7 and following of the consultation document, "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East, Second Edition", published in February 2003. We will announce the Government's conclusions in the White Paper to be published shortly.

ATOL Scheme

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of those booking overseas holidays from the United Kingdom were protected by the ATOL scheme in (a) 1995 and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: In 1995 the proportion of people protected by ATOL compared with the number of people going on holiday overseas was 97 per cent. In 2002, the most recent year for which figures are available, that proportion was 92 per cent. If people going abroad to visit friends and relatives are included, the proportions become 82 per cent. and 75 per cent. respectively.

Big Conversation

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Leader of the House of Commons on 9 December 2003, Official Report, column 355W.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will reply to the letter to him dated 4 November from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. T. P. Garvey.

Tony McNulty: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State replied to my right hon. Friend's letter on 11 December 2003.

Crash Barriers

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many lorries have crashed through barriers on (a) dual carriageways and (b) motorways in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: The following table shows numbers of Heavy Goods Vehicles that have either hit the central reservation or crossed it for both motorways and dual carriageways for the years 1999–2002. The information is not available for 1998.
	
		Vehicles
		
			  (24)Crossed central reservation Hit central reservation Hit near/offside crash barrier 
		
		
			  Dual Carriageways 
			 1999 42 171 104 
			 2000 57 168 112 
			 2001 48 152 118 
			 2002 46 150 120 
			 Motorways 
			 1999 20 98 76 
			 2000 31 86 89 
			 2001 21 81 95 
			 2002 26 80 95 
		
	
	(24) May include vehicles that either "hit the central reservation" or "near/offside crash barrier".

Heathrow Airport

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has held with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the implications for sustainable development in the areas of construction of a third runway at Heathrow.

Tony McNulty: The Department is liaising with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on all aspects of the forthcoming air transport White Paper.

Heathrow Airport

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will arrange for the British Airport Authority's air quality strategy and action plan for Heathrow to be assessed by independent consultants.

Tony McNulty: The three local authorities (Hillingdon, Spelthorne and Hounslow) adjacent to Heathrow have declared Air Quality Management Areas in the vicinity of the airport and are now developing action plans in order to reduce emissions.
	The BAA Air Quality Strategy and Action Plan has been developed in consultation with local authorities and will be considered by the authorities in their assessments of future achievement of emissions requirements.
	BAA's Air Quality Strategy and Action Plan was published in 2002 and has been in the public domain since then. It is also available on the internet, http://www.baa.co.uk/main/corporate/publications frame.html.
	Many of the actions contained in the strategy are independently assessed (by independent consultants Casella Stanger) through BAA' Heathrow's reporting of performance in its annual sustainability report (see www.baa.coni).

Heathrow Airport

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the need to construct further terminals at Heathrow if a third runway were to be constructed;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the effect on capacity on the north runway at Heathrow of aircraft crossing to access the third runway;
	(3)  what estimate his Department has made of how long it would take for aircraft to taxi from terminals to the proposed third runway at Heathrow.

Tony McNulty: We have carefully considered all consultation responses on these issues and carried out some further assessment. We will announce the Government's conclusions in the White Paper to be published shortly.

Heathrow Airport

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the potential risks from aircraft crossing the northern runway to gain access a proposed third runway at Heathrow.

Tony McNulty: In our assessment of all of the options for new airport capacity, we have taken full account of the need to ensure that all aircraft operations comply with the UK's very high aviation safety standards.

Heathrow Airport

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the need for further terminals at Heathrow airport, if a third runway is approved.

Tony McNulty: We have carefully considered all consultation responses on these issues and carried out some further assessment.
	The Government's conclusions on UK airport capacity, including the consideration of development at Heathrow airport, will be set out shortly in the White Paper.

Heathrow Airport

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the number of new areas in London which will be affected by noise pollution if the decision to create a third runway at Heathrow Airport goes ahead.

Tony McNulty: The areas that would be affected are summarized in Chapter 7 of the consultation document "The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East, Second Edition", published in February 2003, pages 56 and 57, and supplementary documents which were published in July 2002.

Lifeboats

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 4 December 2003, Official Report, column 158W, on lifeboats, when the International Maritime Organisation's Design and Equipment Sub-Committee will conclude its review of the standards and guidelines which currently apply to the launching and operation of lifeboats; and what the main objectives of the UK delegation on this committee are.

David Jamieson: The Design and Equipment Sub-Committee will next meet from 1 to 5 March 2004. The short term objective, which will be reviewed at this meeting, is particularly concerned with reducing the number of accidents during lifeboat drills and ensuring reliability of the equipment. Additional guidance and regulations are being developed on crew training and the maintenance of equipment.
	In the longer term, the Sub-Committee seeks to simplify standards for the design of lifeboats in order to make them easier and more reliable to use. It is essential that safety standards in this area are established on an international basis. The UK delegation will therefore support the Sub-Committee by working with international partners to ensure guidelines to the shipping industry are sufficient and effective.

London Underground

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the overall investment figures in the London Underground were for each year between 1990 and 2003, broken down by line.

Tony McNulty: London Underground, which transferred from central Government to Transport for London on 15 July, does not record investment by line. They have provided the following information. In April 2000, London Underground adopted new accounting treatment for its investment expenditure which removed the category 'investment renewals' the majority of this expenditure was reclassified as capital, although some (£90 million) became resource expenditure. Therefore the figures before and after April 2000 are not directly comparable and are presented in two separate tables with the years 1990–91 to 1999–2000 on one consistent basis and those for a restated 1999–2000 to 2002–03 are on another. It is normal accounting practice when a change in accounting treatment occurs to restate the previous year's figures on the same basis in the accounts, so that a true comparison can be made.
	
		Investment expenditure -- £ million (outturn prices)
		
			  1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 
		
		
			 Capital 327 225 414 320 319 210 173 133 171 134 
			 Renewals 87 70 218 159 184 275 198 191 244 208 
			 Total core business 414 295 632 479 503 485 371 324 415 342 
			 Jubilee line extension 40 63 68 261 396 587 660 476 283 655 
			 CrossRail 5 12 29 45 30 16 4 — — — 
			 Total investment 459 370 729 785 929 1,088 1,035 800 698 997 
		
	
	
		Investment expenditure -- £ million (outturn prices)
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Capital 252 293 418 402 
			 Total core business 252 293 418 402 
			 Jubilee line extension 655 — — — 
			 CrossRail — — — — 
			 Total investment 907 293 418 402 
		
	
	The deteriorating performance of London Underground in recent years reflects a long period of unstable funding and insufficient investment. That is why this Government have put in place stable long-term arrangements which will see more than £1 billion invested each year for the next 15 years in maintaining and modernising London Underground's assets, with financial incentives on the infrastructure companies to reverse the decline in performance.

London Underground

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) track and (b) signal failures there were on the London Underground in each year between 1990 and 2003, broken down by line.

Tony McNulty: This is an operational matter for London Underground (LU), which transferred from central Government to Transport for London on 15 July. London Underground has provided the following information for those track and signal failures that caused more than two minutes delay to services. The information for the years before 1996 could be provided only at disproportionate time and cost.
	
		
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Signals
			 Bakerloo 264 292 249 355 248 357 187 
			 Central 644 880 308 335 490 582 520 
			 District 303 269 278 394 525 632 590 
			 East London(25) — — — — 46 68 57 
			 Jubilee 79 110 197 338 398 415 304 
			 Circle and Hammersmith 129 131 125 238 407 396 274 
			 Metropolitan 209 266 194 290 522 613 510 
			 Northern 298 323 216 317 358 388 597 
			 Piccadilly 261 241 213 202 326 289 327 
			 Victoria 115 166 149 131 186 314 425 
			 Waterloo and City(26) — 16 27 29 — — — 
			 Total signals 2,302 2,302 1,929 2,600 3,522 4,081 3,820 
			 
			 Track
			 Bakerloo 193 201 176 168 171 210 111 
			 Central 203 92 65 50 62 133 89 
			 District 74 51 69 83 179 190 259 
			 East London(25) — — — — 10 26 20 
			 Jubilee 45 38 77 146 126 103 139 
			 Circle and Hammersmith 75 61 57 62 98 166 157 
			 Metropolitan 105 73 83 82 136 136 157 
			 Northern 141 165 109 105 208 143 246 
			 Piccadilly 92 110 109 135 165 144 245 
			 Victoria 54 80 66 66 56 56 62 
			 Waterloo and City(26) — — — — 5 5 9 
			 Total track 982 982 811 897 1,216 1,312 1,494 
		
	
	(25) East London Line was included with Jubilee line until 1999–2000.
	(26) Waterloo and City Line included with Central Line until 1999–2000.
	The deteriorating performance of London Underground in recent years reflects a long period of unstable funding and insufficient investment. That is why this Government have put in place stable long-term arrangements which will see more than £1 billon invested each year for the next 15 years in maintaining and modernising London Underground's assets, with financial incentives on the infrastructure companies to reverse the decline in performance.

London Underground

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many delays of more than (a) five minutes, (b) 10 minutes and (c) 15 minutes there were on the London Underground in each year between 1990 and 2003, broken down by line.

Tony McNulty: This is an operational matter for London Underground (LU), which transferred from central Government to Transport for London on 15 July.
	London Underground does not hold the information in the format requested. It only holds data on delays irrespective of their cause where the delay is greater than 15 minutes. The information for the years before 1996 could be provided only at disproportionate time and cost. London Underground has provided the following figures:
	
		Number of train delays >15 minutes
		
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Bakerloo 255 232 300 329 300 318 356 
			 Central 512 678 541 446 495 501 284 
			 District 385 332 360 326 418 574 573 
			 Jubilee 138 142 173 234 208 289 246 
			 East London — 4 295 136 110 108 102 
			 Northern 343 336 332 235 216 247 250 
			 Piccadilly 258 246 275 246 267 333 392 
			 Victoria 131 183 142 95 97 151 148 
			 Metropolitan 374 375 302 319 404 495 564 
			 Circle and Hammersmith 181 135 134 189 291 287 287 
			 Waterloo and City 79 30 44 34 38 39 76 
			 Total 2,656 2,693 2,898 2,589 2,844 3,342 3,278 
		
	
	The deteriorating performance of London Underground in recent years reflects a long period of unstable funding and insufficient investment. That is why this Government have put in place stable long-term arrangements which will see more than £1 billon invested each year for the next 15 years in maintaining and modernising London Underground's assets, with financial incentives on the infrastructure companies to reverse the decline in performance.

M20

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects Junction 10A of the M20 to be opened; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: Part of this scheme is required to provide access to development sites at Ashford. The completion date therefore depends on reaching agreement with the developers on the funding of those elements of the scheme required as a result of development, as well as the satisfactory completion of all necessary statutory and consultation procedures. The scheme is, currently, programmed to be completed by the end of the decade.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what budget is available to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for (a) ship inspections and (b) related activity, with particular reference to enforcement, in each of the last five years.

David Jamieson: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency's budget for ship inspections and related activity, including enforcement in each of the last five years, is listed in the table.
	
		
			  Budget (£000) 
		
		
			 Resource Accounts  
			 2003–04 25,769 
			 2002–03 25,072 
			 2001–02 28,750 
			   
			 Cash Accounts  
			 2000–01 18,955 
			 1999–2000 15,473 
		
	
	The Resource Accounts figures include depreciation and capital charge, which are not included within the Cash Accounts outturns.

Offshore Wind Turbines

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government are taking to limit the possibility of ships colliding with offshore wind turbines.

David Jamieson: My Department will continue to strive to ensure that the risk of ships colliding with offshore wind turbines is kept as low as practicable. When granting consents under the Coast Protection Act 1949 my Department ensures that offshore wind turbines are not located in areas of high collision risk. When construction begins, the existence of offshore wind turbines in a specific location is made known to mariners by way of Notices to Mariners issued by the UK Hydrographic Office and, where necessary, by annotations on nautical charts. Offshore wind turbine developments are also required to be marked in accordance with guidance issued by the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities.
	In considering the second round of bids for site leases, my Department is working with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Crown Estate to help direct offshore renewable energy developments towards areas of the sea associated with low numbers of ship movements. My Department wishes to obtain a full understanding of the cumulative impact on shipping caused by the potential development of the site leases and will consult the shipping and ports industries on the outcome of the Crown Estate's tender assessment panel.
	There will also be further consultation by developers as the legislative consents process requires an environmental impact assessment to be made for each site. To assist developers assess the risks posed by shipping and the measures that they should take to mitigate those risks, detailed guidance has been made available by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
	The Government are introducing legislative proposals in the Energy Bill for safety zones to be established around offshore renewable energy developments. The Bill, which was introduced into the other place (House of Lords) on 30 November, also makes provision for the creation of a new offence in respect of unauthorised ships entering, or breaching the restrictions on operating within, a safety zone. My officials will work closely with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Department for Trade and Industry in establishing safety zones, appropriate to individual offshore turbine developments, in order to further reduce the risk of collisions.

Public Transport (Disabled Access)

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provision rail franchises are required to make for passengers who (a) are disabled and (b) have mobility problems, when deciding what rail links to maintain or discontinue.

Kim Howells: The procedures for deciding whether to reduce or discontinue a rail service are designed, among other things, to ensure that the particular needs of passengers with disabilities or mobility problems are fully taken into account. The level of service which an operator must provide is governed by a Passenger Service Requirement (PSR) and any change requires Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) approval. Where station or line closures are proposed a statutory closure procedure, which includes consultation with passengers, must be followed. In deciding whether to approve a service reduction or closure, the SRA or statutory authorities are expected to take proper account of the implications for all affected groups, including disabled passengers.

Rail Services

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at how many railway stations in England and Wales platform extensions are (a) under way and (b) planned within the next two years; and where each such railway station is.

Kim Howells: holding answer 8 December 2003
	It is understood that Network Rail has work under way at Hollingbourne, Harrietsham, Charing, and Nuneaton, and that work is planned at Sandal and Agbrigg, Wakefield Westgate, South Elmsall, Fitzwilliam, Braintree, Braintree Freeport, Cressing, White Notley, Harrow and Wealdstone, Bushey, Kings Langley, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Tring, Cheddington, Bletchley, Billingshurst, Portslade, West Norwood, Hampden Park, Lewes, Farnham, Virginia Water, Basingstoke, Ascot, Farncombe, Milford, Witley, Liphook, Liss, Petersfield, Bentley, Brockenhurst, Poole, Moreton, Lymington Town, Camberley, Abercynon North, Penrhiwceiber, Fernhill, Cwmbach, Aberdare, Lichfield Trent Valley, Hinckley, Narborough, South Wigston, Princes Risborough, Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross, High Wycombe, West Ruislip, South Ruislip, Wembley Stadium, and Denham.

Rail Services

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the provision of rail services in the east of England.

Tony McNulty: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is currently considering proposals put to him by the Strategic Rail Authority for a new Greater Anglia franchise to commence on 1 April next year. The SRA will also begin consultation on an East Coast Main Line strategy early in the New Year. This is the third in a planned series of 10 strategies and will consider the best use of the existing line and its links to other areas.

Rail Services

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what plans the Strategic Rail Authority has to develop train services to and from Faversham;
	(2)  what progress has been made with respect to phase 2 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link as it affects Faversham.

Tony McNulty: The Strategic Rail Authority recently completed consultations on the proposed Integrated Kent Franchise. The consultation included options for domestic services on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) but the aim is to improve rail services throughout Kent, not only to destinations which might be served by the CTRL. Further consultations on a more detailed service pattern are planned for early in the new year and it is therefore too soon to say what the outcome might be for individual destinations.
	The CTRL domestic service options set out in the consultation are, regardless of the stations they might serve, dependent on completion of the line. Section 2 is on target to open early in 2007.

Road Safety

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about safety on the (a) A14, (b) A134 and (c) A140 in Suffolk; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I have received one recent representation on road safety on the A14, A134 and A140. The Highways Agency (responsible for the A14) and Suffolk County Council (responsible for the A134 and A140) are committed to achieving Government targets on reducing road casualties. The Highways Agency is making good progress with two Targeted Programme of Improvement schemes for resolving accident problems on the A14 in Suffolk, at Rookery Crossroads and the Haughley Bends, and Suffolk County Council have plans for further accident reduction measures on both the A134 and A140.

Safety Camera Partnerships

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines he has issued to the local camera safety partnerships.

David Jamieson: The rules and guidelines for the safety camera netting off scheme are contained in a Handbook that has been issued to every partnership.

Shipping

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 4 December 2003, Official Report, column 162W, on shipping, how the Government determine that ships which do not fly the red ensign but qualify for the tonnage tax regime are strategically and commercially managed in the UK.

David Jamieson: The strategic and commercial management test arises from the European Commission's guidelines on State Aid in the maritime sector. As no specific EC guidance is available on the meaning of "strategically and commercially managed" the Government adopt a common sense interpretation, taking into account the various different strands of management activity that can be carried out in respect of a ship. Elements of both legs of the test must be demonstrated. Among the indicators that might be considered are: Strategic management:
	Location of HQ, including senior management staff
	Where the board of directors makes its decisions
	Commercial management:
	Route planning
	Taking bookings for passengers and cargo
	Managing bunkers, provisioning and victualling requirements
	Personnel management
	Technical management
	None of the indicators for strategic or commercial management will be conclusive on their own. The Government will consider the number and weight of the various indicators exhibited for both legs of the test and will expect to see real economic activity from ship operations in the UK. Greater weight will be given to the higher levels of decision making and management as opposed to day to day management.

Shipping

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 4 December 2003, Official Report, column 162W, on shipping, how many people have been employed in the UK in each of the last 10 years as inspectors to carry out monitoring and compliance inspections of ships to ensure that security measures are properly implemented.

David Jamieson: The numbers of Security Inspectors employed by the Department for Transport with responsibility for compliance inspections of ships for each of the last ten years are as follows:
	1994—6
	1995—5
	1996—5
	1997—5
	1998—5
	1999—5
	2000—5
	2001—5
	2002—5
	2003—4.
	In accordance with security priorities identified by my Department the inspections are carried out on passenger vessels under the provisions only of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990. The Inspectors are also responsible for ensuring security compliance by the ports from which these vessels operate thereby providing a fully integrated ship/port security regime.

Small Businesses

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department uses a database of individual small businesses for consultation purposes.

Tony McNulty: The Department for Transport is committed to good communications with all its stakeholders. Individual policy divisions consult widely with relevant stakeholders, including small businesses, as appropriate when formulating policy. The Department also uses the Small Business Service database of small businesses to seek views on policy proposals.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Big Conversation

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: I refer the hon. Member the Leader of the House to the answer given by my right hon. Friend on 9 December 2003, Official Report, column 355W.

Burundi

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of UK aid levels in Burundi following the report of the UN Economic and Social delegation indicating that peace has been restored.

Hilary Benn: There have been encouraging developments in the peace process in Burundi, but it would be premature to say that peace has been fully restored. At the regional summit on Burundi which took place in Dar es Salaam on 16 November, the Burundi transitional government and the CNDD/FDD rebel group agreed to cease hostilities and share power pending national elections at the end of the transitional period in 2004. Efforts are continuing to persuade the remaining rebel group, the FNL, to cease hostilities and enter negotiations.
	The UK is providing substantial aid support to Burundi. DFID assistance is likely to amount to some £7 million during the present financial year, comprising humanitarian assistance, and support to local peacebuilding programmes, government capacity building, and to the national HIV/AIDS programme. This does not include DFID's 5-year $25 million pledge to the Multi-Donor Demobilisation and Reintegration Programme for the Great Lakes Region, which will support Burundi's national Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) programme once it is under way. It also does not include the UK's contributions to the EC and other multilateral programmes in Burundi.
	The UK is also contributing substantially to the African Union's peacebuilding force, the African Mission in Burundi (AMIB). So far this year we have contributed £3.9 million to help meet the equipment costs of the Mozambican contingent to AMIB, and have recently agreed a further contribution of £2 million to help meet AMIB's in-country costs.

Central Africa

Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when his Department will publish a joint strategy paper on the Great Lakes Region; what assessment he has made of the most recent report of the UN panel of experts on the exploitation of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID plans to publish a note shortly, agreed jointly with the FCO, which will outline its global and regional approach to conflict resolution and development in the Great Lakes.
	The FCO will shortly make a statement on the final report of the UN Panel, representing its position and that of the Department for Trade and Industry and DFID.

Central Africa

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps are being taken as part of the UK's initiative to improve primary education in (a) Rwanda and (b) Malawi.

Hilary Benn: The Government of Rwanda have made remarkable progress in providing education for all since the 1994 genocide. Primary Net Enrolment reached 81.7 per cent. this year, more than twice the figure for 1995.
	DFID has committed more than £13 million to education in Rwanda since 2001, focusing on improving the access, equity and quality of primary education. This includes £3 million for the purchase of primary school textbooks, as well as support for the development of the curriculum, the decentralisation of basic education services, initiatives for out-of-school children and for girls, education on HIV/AIDS and capacity building for education officials.
	In addition, DFID provides some £25 million a year and the EC some Euro17 million a year in flexible budget support to the Government of Rwanda, which supports the implementation of Rwanda's Poverty Reduction Strategy.
	DFID is also supporting improvements to the quality and accessibility of primary education in Malawi. This includes support for a more relevant primary curriculum, improved in-service training of teachers and the involvement of communities in school management. We have also built 250 classrooms and plan to add another 1,250 more. The total value of our current financial commitment is £61 million. We spent £4.6 million in financial year 2002–03 on education in Malawi.

Energy Policy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  whether he has carried out an analysis of the extent to which his Department's support for fossil fuel investment is consistent with (a) the UK's obligations under the Kyoto Protocol and (b) the Government's goal to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent. from 1990 levels by 2050;
	(2)  what his policy is towards the provision of loans and loan guarantees by multilateral development banks to fossil fuel projects overseas; and whether he has reviewed that policy in relation to concerns about climate change.

Hilary Benn: The UK Government are committed to taking a lead in meeting obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, including reductions of carbon dioxide emissions. At the same time, we recognise the rights of other sovereign states to fulfil their own legitimate development needs. In considering support for fossil fuel based investments, it is standard procedure for DFID to liaise with other relevant Government Departments to ensure balance and consistency between these objectives. In addition, our policy is to ensure that lending institutions take account of possible social and environmental impacts such as climate change as part of their policies and procedures in assessing fossil fuel projects, before providing loans or loan guarantees. We are particularly concerned that the management of revenues from such projects occurs transparently and with a positive developmental impact. We hope that initiatives such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative will help to achieve this.
	The UK Energy White Paper, Our energy future—creating a low carbon economy, sets out four core objectives of UK Energy Policy: Tackling Climate Change, Energy Security, Cutting Fuel Poverty and Competitiveness. DFID is working closely with other Government Departments, notably FCO, DTI and DEFRA, to ensure a co-ordinated Whitehall approach to international energy issues.

Energy Policy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total value of support from his Department is to overseas projects for (a) the extraction and transport of fossil fuels and (b) the development of renewable energy.

Hilary Benn: DFID does not fund any projects for the extraction and transport of fossil fuels. It supports six projects that develop and promote small scale renewable energy sources, especially for rural communities. Projects cover the range of energy options, including renewable/fossil fuel hybrid systems, decentralised power generation and comparison with conventional grid electrification. The total value is £1 million over three years 1 .
	1 Engineering Knowledge and Research Progress Report 2002, Infrastructure and Urban Development Department.

Ethiopia

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he is holding with the Ethiopian Government about the border dispute with Eritrea; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Her Majesty's Government keep in touch with the Governments of both Ethiopia and Eritrea at all levels. The Prime Minister recently wrote to both the Prime Minister of Ethiopia and the President of Eritrea indicating that the Boundary Commission's decisions are final and binding and that the two parties should engage in dialogue.
	I met the Eritrean Foreign Minister when he visited London recently, during which we discussed the peace process. He also met my hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Minister for Africa. In addition, the Foreign and Commonwealth Minister has recently met with both the Ethiopian and Eritrean Ambassadors.
	We also keep in close touch with development in the peace process through our Ambassadors in Addis Ababa and Asmara.

Fair Trade Products

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors.

Hilary Benn: The Government are committed to supporting the Fairtrade Foundation's efforts in promoting the supply and marketing of Fairtrade products. The contract for DFID refreshment facilities requires that a range of fair trade products is available for sales on departmental premises and for meetings.

Gender Advisers

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what security considerations led his predecessors to refuse to reveal the salaries of the gender advisers he assigned to Iraq.

Hilary Benn: Salary details are confidential to the employer and the individual under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. They were not withheld for security reasons.

Gender Advisers

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what guidance his Department sought in the appointment of two gender experts in Iraq from (a) recognised Muslim experts and (b) those with detailed understanding of Iraq.

Hilary Benn: DFID has extensive experience of working in Muslim countries in the Middle East and elsewhere.
	In developing our understanding of Iraq, DFID draws on a wide range of expertise, inside and outside government, including our own staff, consultants and others working in Iraq.

Gender Advisers

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what salaries are paid to the two gender experts who have been assigned by his Department to Iraq.

Hilary Benn: As the Lord President of the Council, Baroness Amos, answered on 17 November to a question in another place, salary details are confidential under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Gender Advisers

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what experience of Muslim attitudes the two gender experts who have been assigned from his Department to Iraq have.

Hilary Benn: Both DFID-funded gender advisers in Iraq are Muslim and have extensive experience of working in Islamic cultures.

Gender Advisers

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what arrangements he has made to ensure the co-ordination of gender advice to the Government of Iraq between (a) secondees he has assigned and (b) those of other countries.

Hilary Benn: Both DFID-funded gender advisers in Iraq have clear and specific terms of reference setting out their roles with respect to the Iraqi authorities and the Coalition Provisional Authority, They are expected to co-ordinate their own work with that of other professionals in the field, in particular through the development of women's networks in Iraq.

Ghana

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on International Monetary Fund opposition to the increase in rice and poultry tariffs in Ghana.

Hilary Benn: In his February 2003 Budget the Minister of Finance of Ghana proposed increases in duties on rice and poultry respectively. These increases were the subject of discussions with the International Monetary Fund, which was about to grant Ghana an arrangement under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility. The discussions centred on the effects of the proposals on food prices and public revenues and not on the principles of trade liberalisation. The proposals were later withdrawn by the Government of Ghana.

Global Fund

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has to help secure the long-term future of the Global Fund.

Hilary Benn: The UK is intensifying its efforts to tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic, as set out in the recently published Call for Action. The UK was a prime mover in setting up the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) and we very much want it to be successful as one of a number of instruments in the fight to tackle these three terrible diseases. The long-term future of the fund will be decided by its ability to achieve good results. We and other partners are therefore working closely with the fund to help to increase its effectiveness.
	The UK recognises that in order to be secure and to be able to plan well, the fund needs to have long-term stability of funding. We therefore extended our current commitment through to 2008 bringing our total contribution to the GFATM to US$280 million. Funding will be subject to the GFATM reflecting a clear poverty focus, achieving a better financing system, integrating the fund's activities more effectively with national programmes and meeting agreed benchmarks to monitor its effectiveness. We have been working closely with the fund on all of these issues and made some good progress at the recent Board meeting held in October—particularly on improving the financing system by moving to a more reliable system of replenishment based on commonly agreed performance measures. Good results will encourage increased contributions to the Global Fund—both from the UK and, importantly, from the wider international community and this will help to ensure its future.

Global Fund

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to contribute to the reform of the Global Fund's administrative structure.

Hilary Benn: The Global Fund was created as a new partnership between Governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities in January 2002 and the UK was a prime mover in its establishment. It was set up with an innovative organisational structure—with Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCMs), Local Fund Agents (LFAs) and Principal Recipients (PRs) at country level. The Fund recognises that there is a need at this early stage to assess the relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of the new structures in order to suggest and introduce improvements. Evaluation priorities for 2004–05 have been set these will include the Fund's governance structure and an assessment of the performance based funding system.
	Members of the Board of the Global Fund have a collective responsibility to ensure its effectiveness. As a Board member and through our membership on committees of the Fund—such as the Monitoring and Effectiveness, Finance and Audit Committee, the UK will play its part in any reform resulting from these evaluations. We will be particularly keen to ensure that Global Fund processes do not add to the administrative burden of countries but align and harmonise with existing systems.

Global Fund

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has to adopt a system of annual contributions to the Global Fund based on the Equitable Contribution Framework.

Hilary Benn: My Department has no plans to adopt a system of contributions based on an equitable contribution framework. At the sixth Board meeting of the Global Fund held in October, members of the Board of the Global Fund voted to move to a periodic replenishment model on a voluntary basis for all public donors, complemented by additional ad hoc donations. This is now the agreed system for contributions to the Global Fund and should put the Fund on a firmer financial footing.

Indigenous Peoples' Demonstration Project

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money was originally allocated to the Indigenous Peoples' Demonstration Project for the conservation of Brazilian rain forest; what proportion of this sum will be reallocated for middle income countries; and when support for the IPDP will end.

Hilary Benn: The Indigenous Peoples' Demonstration Project (IPDP) has a budget of £2.1 million for five years. It started in May 2002, with an estimated completion date of April 2007. As DFID is still in the process of reviewing its programme to Brazil, no decisions have been taken yet on the extent to which the project may be affected.

Iraq

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what expert advisers, other than on gender, he intends to send to Iraq for strategic advice; and on which subjects.

Hilary Benn: Within the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad, DFID currently provides strategic advisers in the following areas: Urban Development and Infrastructure, and Food Security. We are planning to deploy additional experts in the following areas: Water and Sanitation, Local Government and Institutional Development, and Economic Policy.
	DFID currently funds strategic advisers within the Coalitional Provisional Authority South (CPAS) in the following areas: Education, Economic Policy and Financial Management and Governance.
	DFID has also agreed to fund strategic advisory posts within the Department of Economic Planning and Development within CPAS. Recruitment is on-going and advisers will work in the following areas: Economic Policy and Financial Management, Agriculture and Irrigation, Justice, Housing and Construction, Transport, Health, Power, Fuel, Water and Sanitation, Telecommunications and Internally Displaced Persons/Refugees.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what immunisation programme is in place for infants in Iraq; what percentage of babies born since the end of the conflict have been immunised; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: A national immunisation campaign is under way in Iraq which aims to vaccinate Iraq's 4.2 million children under five against preventable diseases such as polio, measles, tuberculosis, diphtheria and tetanus. The Ministry of Health, supported by UNICEF, has run a series of national immunisation days since June encouraging routine immunisation. DFID has provided £13.8 million to UNICEF to help fund this and other work.
	Until the national immunisation days commenced in June, it is thought that no babies born since the end of conflict had been immunised. Since then, an estimated 3 million children under five (including babies) have been vaccinated. This implies that around 80 per cent. of under-fives have been vaccinated so far, though no comprehensive data are available.
	There is also a continuing immunisation campaign which takes place twice a week, and aims to reach those children who have missed out on the routine programme of immunisation. In October, the estimated number of children under five reached through this programme was nearly 250,000.

Iraq

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the humanitarian requirements of Iraqi refugees along the Jordanian border.

Hilary Benn: The office of the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) report that there are 1,150 refugees, mostly Iranian Kurds from AI-Tash camp (inside Iraq) and a further 822 in AI-Ruwayshid camp (350 km east of Amman), most of whom are Palestinians. These camps have been prepared for the winter by renewing and strengthening some of the tents and by providing additional blankets and mattresses.
	An NGO partner, the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO), say that they have changed summer tents for thicker winter ones which have a heater inside. Plastic covering is also provided for the outside of the tents and the ground. The number of blankets has doubled and each refugee will have four blankets. Provision has also been made for specific storm shelters and extra clothing. In the area where the camps are established, the temperatures can be warm in the daytime but drop below zero at night.

Mr. Andrew Smith

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what working arrangements there have been between Mr. Andrew Smith and his Department in Sierra Leone in the last 12 months.

Hilary Benn: There have been no such working arrangements.

Non-effective Anti-malarials

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what research he has undertaken into the distribution of non-effective anti-malarials to African countries; and what plans he has to discuss this with the (a) Global Fund and (b) World Health Organisation.

Hilary Benn: Death from malaria, due to poor management of the disease, is increasing in Africa. Evidence suggests that this is in part due to drug resistance. The World Health Organisation (WHO) provides recommendations for anti-malarial drug policy based on sound evidence. WHO and Roll Back Malaria provide technical support to governments and their decision on national policies for anti-malarial drug policy. DFID provides financial support to WHO and Roll Back Malaria.
	We support the process whereby existing treatment protocols are reviewed regularly in the light of evidence from the field and changing patterns of resistance. We support national governments to help strengthen health systems to deliver effective treatment for poor people. A team from DFID will be meeting with Roll Back Malaria partners in Geneva shortly and we will raise these issues with them.

Reproductive Health

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what financial support his Department has provided for reproductive health supplies in each of the last three years;
	(2)  what proportion of his Department's support for sexual and reproductive health programmes since the International Conference on Population and Development has been utilised for the procurement of reproductive health supplies;
	(3)  whether his Department provides technical assistance to its partner countries in building their own capacity to forecast and procure reproductive health supplies;
	(4)  what proportion of his Department's financial support for reproductive health supplies in the past year has been channelled (a) bilaterally, (b) multilaterally and (c) to the private sector and NGOs;
	(5)  what proportion of his Department's support for HIV/AIDS programmes is spent on ensuring the availability of male and female condoms;
	(6)  whether his Department plans to make available to the United Nations Population Fund a grant for reproductive health commodities this year in addition to the core grant.

Hilary Benn: With permission, I will reply to all six questions together. Reproductive health supplies are normally provided as an integral part of broader programmes to promote sexual and reproductive health and prevent HIV/AIDS. The Department for International Development (DFID)'s data capture systems do not, therefore, allow us to isolate expenditure specifically on provision of reproductive health supplies.
	DFID spent a total of over £270 million on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS programmes in the financial year 2002–03, up from around £40 million in 1997–98. DFID is one of the leading bilateral providers of condoms and other reproductive health commodities to developing countries. We are supporting a number of male and female condom social marketing programmes that combine condom procurement and distribution with encouraging behaviour change, communication and capacity building.
	The Government have also committed £16 million (over five years) to the Medical Research Council's microbicide development programme. This promises to be an important new technology that, like female condoms, will empower women to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections.
	Condoms or drugs alone are not the answer to tackling HIV/AIDS. We regard provision of reproductive health supplies as an integral part of DFID's wide-ranging support for reproductive health. This includes HIV/AIDS programmes, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, family planning and maternal and adolescent health. The fight against HIV/AIDS must include effective public programmes involving education, prevention, treatment, care and support and impact mitigation.
	Examples of reproductive health and HIV/AIDS programmes supported by DFID that include provision of reproductive health supplies are:
	£2 million for a regional HIV/AIDS prevention programme in Asia;
	£7.65 million for a regional AIDS programme in Southern Africa;
	£2.9 million for support for reproductive health in Zambia.
	DFID supports a £15 million HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Project in China, which includes working with vulnerable groups, such as commercial sex workers, through civil society organisations. To date, this work has been focussed on reducing risk and vulnerability through increased condom use, access to education and health services. Government capacity to address the rights of children vulnerable to or affected by HIV and the need to address the gender dimensions of HIV and poverty are being given renewed attention.
	More widely, DFID provides technical assistance to strengthen local capacity for health sector planning in a number of countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ghana, Nepal and Tanzania.
	The Government are also a major donor to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and supports the Fund's work to provide the widest achievable range of safe and effective family planning and contraceptive methods, including condoms to prevent HIV/AIDS. This includes providing technical assistance to strengthen local planning capacity. DFID's core support has increased from £15 million a year up to 2001–02 to £ 18million a year from 2002–03 (planned) until 2005–06. We intend to enter into a funding arrangement with UNFPA for several years ahead, to coincide with their work programme, which will give them greater stability of funding. We have no plans to make an additional grant to UNFPA in the current financial year for provision of reproductive health commodities in addition to the core grant.
	The UK played a leading role in setting up the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), which is now an important source of funding for HIV/AIDS programmes. In July 2003 the UK pledged an additional US$80 million to GFATM (US$40 million per annum over two further years). This will extend our current commitment to 2008 and bring our total contribution to US$280 million.
	The Government also support reproductive health activities at a country level. DFID works through Sector Wide Approaches and Direct Budget Support as ways of supporting countries' own development frameworks, which are often in the form of Poverty Reduction Strategies. We work to ensure that sufficient attention is given to reproductive health issues, including the supply and availability of reproductive health commodities. In many circumstances, for example in Cambodia, DFID is also continuing to ring-fence support for reproductive health and HIV/AIDS work, including the supply of reproductive health commodities. The most recent data shows that, in the financial year 2002–03, out of a total of £96 million spent by DFID on Sector Wide Approaches, £31 million (32 per cent.) was spent on programmes that had reproductive health services as one of their target objectives. We work with partners to increase access by poor people to good quality reproductive and sexual health care and services.
	On 1 December—World AIDS Day—the UK Government launched their Call for Action on HIV/AIDS. Details on this can be obtained by contacting: AIDS@dfid.gov.uk. The Call for Action challenges the international community to intensify its efforts to tackle HIV/AIDS and to achieve real progress towards the international targets.

Research Strategy

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what development problems his Department is seeking to resolve through research.

Hilary Benn: The current research programme covers a very wide variety of development problems. DFID supports major research programmes, either alone or with other funders, on:
	HIV/AIDS—including vaccine and microbicide research
	Malaria
	Tuberculosis
	Reproductive and maternal health
	Child health
	Health systems and economics
	Crop production, protection and post-harvest
	Livestock and fish production and health
	Forestry
	Natural resources systems
	Chronic poverty—how to reach the very poorest
	The state, and how citizens can participate in decisions
	Migration
	Inequality and ethnicity
	Competition, regulation and investment
	How developing country governments respond to crises.
	Urbanisation
	Water and Sanitation
	Transport
	Energy
	Information and Communication Technology
	I will also write to the hon. Member with some recent examples of DFID-funded research having an impact on poverty.

Research Strategy

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's research strategy.

Hilary Benn: Following a review of DFID research last year, entitled "Research for Poverty Reduction", the Department is preparing a new research strategy which I hope to publish early in the new year.

Research Strategy

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the remit of the Policy Division within his Department.

Hilary Benn: Policy Division's role is to develop evidence-based, innovative approaches to development, which make a real difference to the poor. Policy Division has been set up to react flexibly to changing needs and priorities. The main areas of work are Aid Effectiveness, Growth, Working in Difficult Environments, Service Delivery, Future Challenges, and Research.
	Policy Division has four equally weighted functions:
	New policy development
	Knowledge sharing and lesson learning across countries
	Core policy subjects eg civil service reform
	Advisory support to our country programmes worldwide.
	All Policy Division teams are focussed on producing work that can be put to practical use in the field of poverty reduction.
	Policy Division has four Public Service Agreement/Service Delivery Agreement (PSA/SDA) targets:
	1. Take up of innovative approaches and research findings developed by DFID;
	2. Progress on global issues with major impact on poor people;
	3. Increased coherence and quality in the international system for reporting progress against the MDGs;
	4. Analytical methods to integrate poverty-environment issues into PRSPs and other development plans.

Rwanda

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures the Government can deploy in the case of a breach of the Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda.

Hilary Benn: Our engagement with the Government of Rwanda is based upon the joint commitments set down in the UK/Rwanda Memorandum of Understanding. These commitments include:
	the promotion of peace and stability within the Great Lakes regional, including the promotion of transparency and legality of the exploitation of the region's natural resources;
	the promotion and protection of all human rights, including social and economic rights, for all Rwandans, including through the promotion and observance of relevant international agreements;
	the promotion of democratic institutions of governance;
	the pursuit of poverty reduction, by placing poverty reduction and social inclusion at the centre of policy-making and resource allocation;
	strengthening systems for budget execution, financial management and financial accountability, to ensure that funds are used for the intended purposes, are properly accounted for, and provide value for money.
	Progress against these commitments is reviewed each year by a team of independent consultants. That review forms the basis of the annual UK/Rwanda Partnership Talks. Any concerns arising from the independent review or from the UK's routine assessment of Government policy and practice are discussed with the Government of Rwanda.
	Should we believe that the Government of Rwanda are not honouring the commitments made in the Memorandum of Understanding, and where the consultation process provided for within the Memorandum of Understanding fails to satisfy our concern, then we reserve the right to amend or entirely suspend our engagement with the Government of Rwanda. Our aim in any re-configuration of our engagement will be to continue to make the greatest possible impact on poverty in Rwanda.

Rwanda

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment of the fairness of elections in Rwanda his Department has undertaken.

Hilary Benn: The recent national elections—the first since 1994, when genocide claimed the lives of over 800,000 Rwandans—were an important step towards Rwandan democracy. They were well organised and peaceful, they helped establish an electoral process in a country with no democratic tradition, and they demonstrated a genuine public thirst for democracy. But we believe that they were also flawed. The European Union's Election Observation Mission highlighted a number of irregularities, although it stopped short of questioning the validity of the process or the result (Observation Missions from the Africa Union and South Africa reported far fewer irregularities). And we assess that in the run-up to the elections, Government moved to control the activities of opposition parties, civil society and the independent media.
	We have urged the Government to take confidence from its new popular mandate, to open up space for legitimate political debate and to continue its work to establish a democratic and inclusive state.

Rwanda

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has undertaken of the time scale over which democracy will be introduced in Rwanda with free elections.

Hilary Benn: DFID's 2003 Country Assistance Plan, a copy of which was recently placed in the House of Commons Library, presents our analysis of the process of democratisation in Rwanda.
	We conclude that the Government of Rwanda is committed to establishing a democratic and inclusive state, at the pace that Rwanda's continuing social fragility dictates. We see evidence of this in the recent national elections, the first since the 1994 genocide and civil war. Although flawed, these elections were also well organised and peaceful, and helped establish a democratic process in Rwanda. The Government aims to build democracy from the bottom, by empowering local communities to engage with local government structures around policy development and resource allocation. It believes that democracy built in this way, with its emphasis on social participation and inclusion, will act as a counter-balance to political extremism including genocidal ideology. Local government structures are being established at a rapid rate, and significant resources are now being channelled to them.
	We cannot determine a particular year by which "democracy" should be established. The pace of democratisation will be determined by the country's experience as it moves to establish local government, re-integrate ex-combatants returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo and individuals guilty of genocide and allows greater space for Parliament and the public to scrutinise the executive. But we have identified with Government a number of actions that should be taken over the next 12 months in certain key areas of political governance which are necessary to strengthen and demonstrate the move towards democratisation. These actions will be set out in the 2004 UK/Rwanda Memorandum of Understanding, which we will sign with the Government of Rwanda in January. The annual independent review of the Memorandum of Understanding provides the basis for our Partnership Talks with the Government of Rwanda.

Swazi Maize Farmers

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact which food aid to Swaziland is having on the ability of Swazi maize farmers to sell their produce; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Food aid always has the potential to disrupt incentives to local farmers. That is why DFID looks carefully at the specific food needs in each humanitarian operation and discusses food aid programmes with the major agencies, including the World Food Programme. We encourage WFP to source grains locally whenever this is possible and cost effective.
	The National Agricultural Marketing Board of Swaziland suspended import permits for maize at the beginning of November this year. In the view of the Marketing Board, food aid imports are depressing local market prices, and DFID has therefore been discussing the position with the World Food Programme. WFP has informed us that tenders for food aid in Swaziland have been open to Swazi suppliers.
	DFID's own support for WFP programmes in Swaziland has prioritised the use of corn soya blend for the most vulnerable of the food insecure, mostly vulnerable children and expectant mothers. Corn soya blend has no locally-produced substitute and will not disrupt incentives for local maize trade or maize planting.

Timber

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development by what means the Department's policy for purchasing timber and timber products ensures that they are obtained from legal and sustainable sources.

Hilary Benn: DFID ensures that its contractors and procurement agents purchasing goods on our behalf, are aware of Government policies and requires them to obtain proof from their suppliers that timber and timber products have been procured from legal and sustainable sources.

Turkmenistan

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the impact which new laws on NGO registration in Turkmenistan will have on the ability of organisations to carry out humanitarian work; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	I am very concerned that the new legislation on NGOs will criminalise legitimate NGO activity and give the Ministry of Justice powers to curb the work of NGOs in Turkmenistan.
	Our Embassy in Ashgabat has raised these concerns with the Turkmen Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging the Turkmen government not to use the legislation to penalise NGOs. Our concerns have also been raised with the Turkmen Ambassador to London.
	With OSCE and other partners we have sent two Note Verbales asking for a meeting with the Turkmen Foreign Minister to discuss our concerns. We await a response and will continue to monitor this issue carefully.

UN Relief and Works Agency

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid was donated by the British Government to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in each of the last 10 years; and how much is pledged for 2004.

Hilary Benn: The UK's bilateral contributions to UNRWA for each financial year since 1994 are:
	
		£ million
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1994–95 6.0 
			 1995–96 6.6 
			 1996–97 8.1 
			 1997–98 10.0 
			 1998–99 3.4 
			 1999–2000 13.0 
			 2000–01 18.8 
			 2001–02 25.4 
			 2002–03 18.8 
			 2003–04 (27)18.1 
		
	
	(27) Spend to December 2003—the forecast for the financial year is £19 million.
	Contributions since the start of the intifada in 2000 include extra funding allocated to UNRWA's emergency appeals for the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Our current bilateral framework for UNRWA for 2004–05 is £15 million.
	The UK also contributes to UNRWA through its share of EC funding. EC contributions totalled Euro77 million in 2001, Euro65 million in 2002 and Euro82 million this year. The UK provides approximately 19 per cent. of funds to the EC's budget.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Asylum and Immigration

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs what plans he has to ensure consistency in decision making at adjudicator level if the Immigration Appeals Tribunal is abolished.

David Lammy: The majority of appeals within the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) will be heard and decided by single immigration judges. In reaching decisions judges must follow case law set by a panel of senior immigration judges and practice directions from the President.
	In addition senior immigration judges will be responsible for ensuring consistent standards across the jurisdiction.

Asylum and Immigration

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  if he will set out the hierarchy within the proposed new asylum and immigration appeals system;
	(2)  what the ratio of senior immigration judges to immigration judges will be in his proposed hierarchy for asylum and immigration appeals;
	(3)  what the criteria for selecting senior immigration judges will be; and in what respect their role will differ from that of immigration judges;
	(4)  if he will make a statement on the role of senior immigration judges.

David Lammy: The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal will be headed by a President supported by one or more Deputy Presidents. The precise hierarchical structure of the Tribunal, including the selection criteria for senior immigration judges, is the subject of continuing discussions with the judiciary. The intention is to make the best use of the existing judicial complement who will transfer automatically to the new Tribunal. In broad terms, there will be a core body of senior immigration judges to support the work of immigration judges either by way of establishing case law, dealing with applications for review of Tribunal decisions or acting in supervisory positions.

Asylum and Immigration

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs whether his proposals for a new asylum and immigration appeals system will provide for (a) a review of and (b) an appeal from decisions that can be shown to be incorrect because of an administrative error by the Immigration Appeals Tribunal; and whether his proposals will provide an opportunity to challenge decisions if the conduct of the Immigration and Appeals Tribunal judge is questioned

David Lammy: The Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claims, etc.) Bill will make provision for the tribunal to review its decision only if there has been a clear legal error which goes to the heart of the decision. A review will be conducted by reference to written submissions only.

Asylum and Immigration

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time immigration adjudicators were in post on 1st October in each of the last four years.

David Lammy: The numbers for fee-paid part-time, and for salaried immigration adjudicators are as follows:
	
		
			 Date Fee-paid Salaried 
		
		
			 1 October 2000 143 15 
			 1 October 2001 264 46 
			 1 October 2002 394 80 
			 1 October 2003 399 156 
		
	
	These figures do not include the following posts: 1 Chief Adjudicator, 1 Deputy Chief Adjudicator, 9 Regional Adjudicators and 7 Deputy Regional Adjudicators. In addition, a salaried Adjudicator with responsibility for training matters is in the process of being appointed.

Name Changes

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many cases of change of name by deed poll were recorded in each of the last five years.

Christopher Leslie: Figures are only available for the number of change of name deeds registered in the Central Office of the Supreme Court.
	The figures are as follows:
	
		
			  Change of name deeds enrolled 
		
		
			 1998 227 
			 1999 210 
			 2000 254 
			 2001 193 
			 2002 184 
			 Total 1,068

Judicial Oversight

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs whether the term judicial oversight in the context of the designated senior judge means (a) active oversight of substantive decisions and (b) purely administrative oversight

David Lammy: The designated senior judge will have a managerial and an advice and mentoring role. The substantive decision will continue to be the responsibility of the judge conducting the tribunal hearing.

Art Acquisition

Norman Baker: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much his Department or its predecessors has spent on the acquisition of works of art in each year since 1997, broken down by amounts spent on (a) paintings and (b) sculpture; what the single most expensive piece of art purchased by his Department since 1997 has been; how much it cost; and what the total revenue raised by his Department through sales of works of art has been since 1997.

Christopher Leslie: My Department has neither acquired nor sold any works of art in the period since 1997.

Big Conversation

Oliver Heald: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Leader of the House of Commons on 9 December 2003, Official Report, column 355W.

House Sales

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many house sales there were at more than (a) £20,001, (b) £50,001, (c) £75,001, (d) £100,001, (e) £150,001, (f) £200,001, (g) £250,001 and (h) £500,001 in Torbay in each of the last six years for which figures are available.

David Lammy: The figures for each completed calendar year are as follows. Land Registry collects residential property price data by specified price bands and it is not possible to provide figures for sales specifically within the bands £75,001 and £250,001. Alternative ranges have therefore been provided.
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 More than £20,001 1,559 1,292 1,219 852 563 345 
			 More than £50,001 1,388 1,519 1,759 1,759 1,541 1,022 
			 More than £80,001 346 374 554 664 897 1,003 
			 More than £100,001 261 284 485 647 934 1,393 
			 More than £150,001 82 100 158 200 337 621 
			 More than £200,001 39 62 77 112 149 313 
			 More than £300,001 6 11 10 27 52 92 
			 More than £500,001 12 0 5 7 6 6

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Chechnya

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the human rights situation in Chechnya.

Bill Rammell: We remain concerned over consistent reports of human rights abuses in Chechnya, especially reports of rising numbers of "disappearances". We regularly raise our concerns on human rights in Chechnya with the Russian authorities. We most recently did so following the Chechen Presidential elections, when I called for human rights to be upheld in Chechnya.

Big Conversation

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House on 9 December 2003, Official Report, column 355W.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the treatment of members of political parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with particular reference to the UDPS.

Chris Mullin: Political parties, including the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) now enjoy a considerable degree of freedom of speech and of activity. New laws for registration and financing of political parties are on the agenda of the National Assembly of the DRC. Some political parties, newly formed from rebel movements in the east, do not want to register under the former Government's legislation until these laws are passed. With our support, the independent Electoral Commission and the High Media Authority (both civil society institutions) are monitoring closely.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on human rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Chris Mullin: The UN Special Rapporteuse on Human Rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reported to the Security Council in October 2003 on the current situation. We remain concerned about the high level of human rights violations across the country which she reported, particularly in the east.
	Many violations committed during the war are also coming to light now that the fighting has reduced and the civilian population has more access to information, to the UN force (MONUC) and to NGOs. The new civil society institutions, particularly the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the National Human Rights Observatoire, will need to work with the Transitional National Government to deal with past and current abuses. The international community, including the UK, is offering political, financial and technical support to these Commissions.

European Constitution

William Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 245W, on the draft European Constitution, how his statement that Article I-10 (1) should be interpreted accordingly applies to interpretation by the United Kingdom courts in respect of any future enactment of the United Kingdom Parliament which UK courts had determined was unambiguously inconsistent with European Union law.

Denis MacShane: The ultimate guarantee of parliamentary sovereignty lies in the power of Parliament to repeal all or any of the Acts which give effect to the EU treaties in this country. It is within Parliament's power to legislate contrary to the UK's treaty obligations. This of course includes legislation that might impact on the effective implementation of Article I-10 (1). The result of so doing, however, would be to place the UK in breach of its treaty obligations.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's position on the proposal for British/Spanish joint sovereignty for Gibraltar.

Denis MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 12 July 2002, Official Report, columns 1165–80.

Hajj 2004

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what extra consular, medical and other support he proposes to offer to UK citizens attending the Hajj at Mecca in 2004.

Chris Mullin: The delegation will include eight doctors, two counsellors and two members of staff from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Identity Cards

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of the introduction of compulsory identity cards for his Department.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has been involved from an early stage in detailed consultations with the Home Office and other Government Departments about the implications of an identity cards scheme. The FCO's initial concerns were addressed in the Home Office's paper "Identity Cards: The Next Steps" of November 2003. Issues such as the scheme's compatibility with EU legislation are being addressed in the drafting of the Bill. The FCO is represented on the interdepartmental programme board for ID cards which is taking into account the implications for foreign nationals and British nationals overseas, as well as our visa and consular services.
	The Government have adopted an incremental approach to the introduction of ID cards which will ensure that successful roll-out in the first stage is a precondition for any move to compulsory cards.

Iraq

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the Government is playing in the process of awarding contracts for the provision of mobile telecommunications services in Iraq; how this process is being managed; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The process of awarding licences for the provision of mobile telecommunications services in Iraq is the responsibility of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). The Iraqi Minister of Communications reviewed the outcome of the process and announced it.
	The CPA put into place measures and safeguards in order to ensure the telecommunications licences were awarded in a transparent, fair and impartial manner, based upon full and open competition.

Iraq

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the extent of the involvement of Mr. Nadhmi Auchi in the process for awarding contracts for the provision of mobile telecommunications services in Iraq.

Bill Rammell: The process for awarding licences for the provision of mobile telecommunications services in Iraq was the responsibility of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). The Iraqi Minister of Communications reviewed the outcome of the process and announced it. Mr. Nadhmi Auchi was not involved in the process of awarding licences.

Iraq

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the Pentagon Inspector General and (b) other US authorities on investigations into the awarding of contracts for the provision of mobile telecommunications services in Iraq, with particular reference to the activities of Mr. David Leech and Mr. Jim Davis.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with the Pentagon Inspector General or other US authorities on investigations into the awarding of the licences for the provision of mobile telecommunications services in Iraq. The British Government have no knowledge of any investigation into or formal allegation against Mr. David Leech or Mr. Jim Davies, and no reason to doubt their integrity in any way.
	The CPA put into place measures and safeguards in order to ensure the telecommunications licences were awarded in a transparent, fair and impartial manner, based upon full and open competition.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria will determine whether the results of investigations by (a) the Iraq Survey Group and (b) any other agency will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The Iraq Survey Group is a coalition body, not a UK Government body. The reports that they produce will be shared with the Governments of the coalition parties.
	The criteria for the release of any information generated within the Government or received by the Government are laid down in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Middle East

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the action taken by his Department to address human rights violations in Middle Eastern states with particular reference to (a) Saudi Arabia, (b) Syria and (c) Iran.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and Foreign Office Ministers have discussed human rights concerns with their opposite numbers in these countries on many occasions. We also raise concerns through the EU.
	On Saudi Arabia, we continue to have concerns about the failure to implement basic human rights norms. We have raised the use of capital punishment with the Saudi authorities, doing so most recently in conjunction with EU partners on 20 April 2003.
	My hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Mike O'Brien) raised a range of civil society issues with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during his visit to Damascus on 5 March 2003.
	The Foreign Secretary most recently raised concerns about human rights in Iran, including restrictions on freedom of expression, with his Iranian counterpart in September 2003. The UK co-sponsored a Canadian-tabled resolution on human rights in Iran at the United Nations General Assembly in November this year.

Simon Chapman

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to secure the release of Mr. Simon Chapman, arrested on 21 June 2003 in Thessaloniki, Greece; whether Her Majesty's representatives in Greece viewed the video evidence purporting to demonstrate Mr. Chapman's innocence of the charges made against him; how many days Mr. Chapman was on hunger strike; what the most recent assessment is of Mr. Chapman's medical condition; if he will make representations to the Greek authorities to lift the remaining barriers that prevent Mr. Chapman from returning to the UK; and what publicly-funded (a) legal advice and (b) financial support is available to Mr. Chapman to pursue a civil action against the Greek authorities.

Chris Mullin: Simon Chapman was released on bail on 27 November 2003. Consular staff were in regular touch with him throughout his detention; and staff in the UK were in frequent touch with his family.
	Neither the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) nor the British Embassy in Athens are in a position to comment on the video evidence put forward in Mr. Chapman's defence. It is for the courts to decide upon its relevance to his case.
	Mr. Chapman started refusing food and liquids from 4 October 2003, although he did take honey and vitamin supplements. He started taking water from 25 October 2003. Since his release, Mr. Chapman has not contacted our staff but we remain in contact with his family, who have told us that Mr. Chapman is now eating certain foods and steadily regaining weight.
	Mr. Chapman's lawyer has made an application to the Greek authorities to allow him to return to the UK pending his trial.
	The FCO does not fund the legal costs of distressed British nationals but we have offered the use of a pro-bono lawyer from the FCO panel to assist Mr. Chapman's lawyer.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will press the Government of Sudan to accept international monitoring of the situation in Darfur, Sudan;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Government of Chad with regard to the Sudanese peace talks.

Chris Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development spoke with the President of Sudan on 10 December during his visit to Sudan on 10 and 11 December, about the situation in Darfur. He expressed the British Government's concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation there, and made clear that the parties needed to stop fighting and renew the ceasefire as a matter of urgency. We will ask the Government of Sudan to consider inviting international observers to monitor a renewed ceasefire.
	Our Embassy in Khartoum has also had contact with the Chadian Embassy there with regard to the Abeche peace talks.

Terrorism

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of steps taken by Saudi Arabia to combat al-Qaeda operations.

Bill Rammell: The Government of Saudi Arabia have taken significant steps to combat al-Qaeda-related terrorism in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks and in response to increased terrorist activity in Saudi Arabia. It has ratified six of the 12 International Conventions on terrorism; and has signed, but not yet ratified, the Convention on the financing of terrorism. It publicly condemned the 11 September attacks and has made clear repeatedly its condemnation of all terrorism.
	Over the past year, the Saudi authorities have adopted wide-ranging measures against terrorism. They have publicly identified wanted terrorist suspects, made many arrests, seized significant caches of terrorist weapons and explosives, sought to counter the ideology underpinning the terrorists' activities, enhanced the security presence in public places, including around residential compounds, and taken measures to counter the flow of terrorist funding. We are co-operating closely with the Saudi authorities, as is the US and other international partners.
	Nevertheless, the terrorist attacks of 12 May and 9 November highlight the very real threat of terrorism in Saudi Arabia. We continue to believe terrorists are planning further attacks in Saudi Arabia. Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice makes this assessment clear.

UK Visas

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Visa and Correspondence section of UK Visas will reply to the letter of 18 November from the hon. Member for Walsall, North concerning a constituent case, ref. 659979.

Chris Mullin: A substantive reply was sent to my hon. Friend on 11 December.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Alternative Voting Methods

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact of alternative voting methods in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: The Government are always ready to look at alternative voting methods if they lead to a more effective electoral system. However, before considering any alternative methods we would need to be sure that they would not compromise our anti-fraud measures.

Alternative Voting Methods

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans he has to introduce pilot schemes for electronic counting of votes in future (a) local government, (b) Assembly, (c) Westminster and (d) European Parliament elections; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: Following the recent Assembly elections we will be talking to interested parties to ascertain their views on ensuring that election counts are efficient and effective as possible.

Ballyvester Primary School

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will make the necessary funding available to Ballyvester Primary School in North Down to facilitate the replacement of mobile classrooms.

Jane Kennedy: I understand from the Chief Executive of the South Eastern Education and Library Board that the long-term future of Ballyvester Primary School is being considered as part of the Board's five-year Capital Development Plan, which was published in October 2003 and is out for consultation until February 2004. The five-year plan indicates that a review of primary provision in the area will be carried out before the end of 2005.
	In the meantime, the Board has carried out improvements to the heating in the main school and external repair to the existing mobiles. As a short-term measure, the Board also offered to replace some of the older mobile classrooms with newer mobiles but the school has declined this solution.

Closed Circuit Television

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding he has made available for town centre CCTV schemes in Northern Ireland; and what assessment he has made of the contribution of CCTV to the reduction of crime in Northern Ireland's town centres.

John Spellar: During the period 1999–2001, the Government, through the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, invested £2.3 million in CCTV systems in seventeen town centres across Northern Ireland. We hope that it will be possible to build on this original investment and plan to make a further statement shortly.
	In terms of the impact of CCTV, we have received evaluations from nine of the systems installed during 1999–2001. My officials are currently considering these and will be seeking a further independent view of their overall impact on crime across Northern Ireland.
	We remain of the view that CCTV, when used as part of a wider crime reduction strategy, can be an effective tool in tackling crime.

Diabetes Framework

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in the implementation of the Diabetes Framework Strategy for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Department will establish an Implementation Team, early in the new year, to produce an implementation plan for the Diabetes Service Framework. The Implementation Team will identify specific actions which can be taken forward within the additional resources which will be made available for diabetes services next year and produce a prioritised and costed list of further actions which can be taken forward as additional resources are secured.

Disability Discrimination Act

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to cover education and transport services in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: It is proposed to issue a Northern Ireland consultation document on the proposal to remove the exemption for transport services in Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 early next year.
	In relation to the coverage of education, the Act will effectively be extended to cover Northern Ireland by way of Special Educational Needs and Disability legislation which is currently in course of preparation and is expected to be made next year.

Farming (Subsidy Claims)

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many appeals have been heard against decisions by the Department to penalise farmers for errors in subsidy claims; and what percentage of these appeals have been successful.

Ian Pearson: A total of 48 cases have been heard by the Independent Appeals Panel. Of these, eight relate to errors in subsidy claims and one of these (12.5 per cent.) has been successful. In total, 23 per cent. of the cases heard by the Panel have been successful either in whole or in part.

Harland and Wolff

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what grant assistance has been given to Harland and Wolff in Belfast since 1 January 2000 in respect of equipment purchased which has since been sold on to Swan Hunter.

Ian Pearson: No grant assistance has been provided since 1 January 2000 in respect of surplus equipment sold by Harland and Wolff, to Swan Hunter, as part of ongoing restructuring activity.

Local Community Fund

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what electoral wards will receive grants from the Local Community Fund; and what projects will be supported in each.

John Spellar: For 2003–04 the Local Community Fund has been allocated to communities using the Noble measure of multiple deprivation overlaid by the results of a mapping exercise carried out by the Community Foundation of Northern Ireland. A full list of areas benefiting from the Fund is shown in the following table. Allocation of the Fund has been calculated on a proportionality basis, using estimated populations for the list of selected areas.
	It is intended that key activities, which the Fund will support, will involve capacity building and the strengthening of leadership at a neighbourhood level. Deployment of the Fund is based on a bottom up approach with local communities developing community ideas and identifying appropriate activities to be supported as a solution to tackling their problems against the allocated sums. Each area is currently working up initiatives/actions for support through the Fund. Some examples of the type of activity likely to be supported are refurbishment of community houses, youth intervention programmes and environmental improvement projects and it is hoped that activities will get on the ground early in the new year.
	
		Local Community Fund initial areas 2003–04—District council areas
		
			 Ward Area 
		
		
			 Ards  
			 Loughries Bowtown Estate 
			   
			 Belfast  
			 St. Anne's Lower Shankill 
			 St. Anne's Brown Square 
			 Ballymacarrett Pottinger (Inner East) 
			 Ballymacarrett Avoniel (Part of Inner East) 
			 Ballymacarrett The Mount (Part of Inner East) 
			 Ballymacarrett Willowfield (Part of Inner East) 
			 Ballymacarrett Ravenhill (Part of Inner East) 
			 Clonard Clonard 
			 Clonard Beechmount/Cavendish 
			 Blackstaff Village 
			 Glencairn Glencairn 
			 Highfield Highfield 
			 Finaghy Finaghy 
			   
			 Carrickfergus  
			 Northland Sunnylands 
			 Gortalee Greenisland/Gortalee 
			   
			 Castlereagh  
			 Castlereagh Tullycarnet 
			   
			 Coleraine  
			 Ballysally Ballysally 
			 Churchland The Heights 
			   
			 Cookstown  
			 Stewartstown Stewartstown 
			   
			 Craigavon  
			 Drumgask Parkmore 
			   
			 Derry  
			 St. Peter's Foylehill/Creggan 
			 Victoria Top of Hill/Gobnascale 
			 Shantallow East Shantallow 
			 Glen Glen Estate 
			 Corrody Curryneirin and Tullally 
			 Caw Clooney 
			 Clondermot Irish Street 
			 Faughan Lettershandoney 
			 Crevagh and Springtown Ballymagroaty /Hazel bank 
			   
			 Down  
			 Flying Horse Model Farm Estate 
			 Cathedral Flying Horse Estate 
			 Shimna Newcastle 
			 Dungannon  
			 Ballysaggart Ballysaggart 
			   
			 Larne  
			 Central Riverdale 
			   
			 Limavady  
			 Limavady Glen Estate and Hospital Lane 
			   
			 Moyle Council  
			 Glentaisie Ballycastle Town 
			   
			 Newry and Mourne  
			 Daisy Hill Carnagat 
			 Newtownhamilton Newtownhamilton Village 
			 Ballybot Derrybeg 
			   
			 Newtownabbey  
			 Glengormley Glenvarna and Queenspark 
			   
			 North Down  
			 Conlig Rathgill 
			 Harbour Harbour Ward 
			   
			 Omagh  
			 Termon Carrickmore 
			 Fintona Fintona 
			   
			 Strabane  
			 Glenderg Glenderg Ward 
			 Strabane West Lisnafin 
			 Strabane South Ballycolman

Northern Ireland Assembly

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the expected monthly running cost is of the Northern Ireland Assembly (a) while suspended and (b) when fully operational, broken down by (i) MLA salaries and office cost allowance costs, (ii) executive costs when the Assembly is operational and (iii) general administration costs.

Paul Murphy: The expected monthly running costs of the Northern Ireland Assembly while suspension continues are £1.93 million, comprising £0.83 million for MLA salaries, office cost allowance, travel and subsistence expenses and party allowances and £l.l million for general administration. The monthly costs when the Assembly was last fully operational were £2.64 million, comprising 0.97 million for MLA salaries, office cost allowance, travel and subsistence expenses and party allowances and £1.67 million for executive and general administration costs. It is not possible to separate the executive costs of running Assembly business from the general administration costs.

Paramilitary Activity (Exiles)

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many people have been exiled from Northern Ireland by (a) Loyalist and (b) Republican paramilitary groups in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what his latest estimate is of the total number of people who have been exiled from Northern Ireland by paramilitary groups since 1973.

Angela Smith: There are no official figures on the number of people exiled from Northern Ireland as a result of paramilitary intimidation as not all incidents are reported. The needs of exiles are examined in detail in the Legacy Report, an independent needs analysis of victims of the Troubles living in Great Britain. One of the major contributors to this research was Maranatha, a Christian community which has considerable experience in this area. Maranatha estimates that around four people per month are exiled from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.

Police Fund

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in relation to the arrest of two members of staff of the Police Fund on 5 December 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: As the Chairman of the Northern Ireland Police Fund stated on 5 December 2003, he was made aware on the previous day of serious allegations, including financial irregularities, in respect of the Fund. Two members of staff were questioned by the police, although they were subsequently released without charge. I welcome the commitment of the Fund's Directors to provide continuity of care and services to the Fund's clients, as far as possible.
	As there is an on-going police investigation, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

Police Fund

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of possible breaches of confidentiality of the names and addresses of Royal Ulster Constabulary widows following the arrest of two members of staff of the Police Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Lady to the statements issued by the Fund Chairman on 5 December 2003. Copies of the statements have been placed in the Library.

Police Station (Belfast Airport)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what basis the decision to close the police station at Belfast International Airport was made; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: While some functions are to transfer from the Police Station to the new Airport Control Centre, such as monitoring CCTV and managing operational communications, the Police Station itself remains a vital part of the security infrastructure at the airport and will not be closed.

Post-primary Education

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on reducing the number of disaffected pupils in post primary schools by 15 per cent. as set out in the Department of Education Business Plan 2003–04.

Jane Kennedy: The target is to achieve the reduction by 2006. At the end of the 2003–04 school year the baseline for persistent non-attendance and multiple suspensions will be determined and it is against this that progress will be measured. It will be November 2005 before the first report on progress is available.

School Enrolments

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the latest enrolment numbers available at schools and in pre-funded education are for 2002–03 in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Children in Funded Places in Voluntary and Private Pre- school Education Centres 5,804 
			 Nursery Schools 6,269 
			 Nursery Classes in Primary Schools 7,823 
			 Reception Pupils in Primary Schools 1,149 
			 Reception Pupils in Preparatory Departments 31 
			 Primary Schools (Year 1-Year 7) 165,179 
			 Preparatory Departments (Year 1-Year 7) 2,620 
			 Secondary Schools (Non Grammar) 92,645 
			 Grammar Schools (Year 8-Year 14) 63,102 
			 Special Schools 4,879 
			 Hospital Schools 236 
			 Independent Schools 948 
			 All Schools and funded pre-school centres 350,685

Victims (Representation)

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how the interests of victims and survivors of the Northern Ireland Troubles from Great Britain are represented in the talks between the British and Irish Governments and the Northern Ireland political parties.

Angela Smith: The Joint Declaration of 6 May 2003 commits Government to work with the Irish Government, the political parties and victims and survivors to seek to establish what further practical steps can be taken to recognise and address the suffering of all victims, taking into account the state of readiness of the community as a whole to engage. The Government continues to work towards meeting these commitments and as part of this process I am currently engaged in a consultation process to develop the next generation of victims' policy. Included within this process are the findings of The Legacy Report, a recently completed needs analysis of victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles living in Great Britain. The report was commissioned by the Legacy Project, an initiative of the Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Trust which has been allocated Government funding of £250,000. The recommendations made in the report are now under consideration.

Victims Liaison Unit

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ask the Victims Liaison Unit to organise a conference to examine how best practice and experiences from Northern Ireland can be used in meeting the needs of victims and survivors of the Northern Ireland Troubles from Great Britain.

Angela Smith: The Legacy Report, an independent needs analysis of victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles living in Great Britain, makes a number of recommendations for Government across a range of its Departments. One of the recommendations is that the Victims Liaison Unit in the Northern Ireland Office should organise a conference to share best practice and experiences from Northern Ireland. This and other recommendations are currently under consideration.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Building Regulations

Llew Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Association for Environment Conscious Building in respect of changes to the building regulations.

Nick Raynsford: The Association is on the list of organisations consulted when changes are proposed to the Building Regulations in England and Wales, and most recently it has commented on the overall structure and aims of the current review of Part L of the Regulations, which deals with energy conservation.

Barker Report

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Barker report. [R]

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister welcomes the report. Kate Barker and her team have done a thorough job in getting to grips with the issues of housing undersupply.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister believes the review complements the Communities Plan, by highlighting the need for additional housebuilding, and for a more responsive industry in high demand areas. The Barker report deepens our understanding of the constraints that must be overcome.
	The report is right to emphasise that this is not just a matter of getting housing numbers up. We have to build sustainable communities, not just houses. For if we do not achieve this, we risk repeating the mistakes of the past, where residents are reluctant to see further development, and this reduces housebuilding further still.
	The report says we need to deliver the socially optimal numbers, type and location of housing. That means carefully balancing different objectives and considerations—economic, social and environmental, which fits in well with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's overarching objectives.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister agrees that the planning system is not perfect. Reforms are currently before parliament in the Planning Bill. These, we believe will improve planning policy and process. We look forward to hearing what recommendations are produced in the final Barker report.
	Finally, we welcome the analysis of the housebuilding industry, and agree that the industry seems to be in a low output equilibrium. We reinforce Kate Barker's conclusion that the industry could and should make better use of modern methods of construction.

Barker Report

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he will introduce to increase house building as recommended in the Barker report. [R]

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister welcomes the research undertaken by the Barker Review, especially the figures for the additional housing required to fulfil particular aims. The review makes clear that it is not recommending a rate of housebuilding, however, and that it is up to Government to determine what the appropriate level is. It also makes clear that the country needs a housebuilding industry that is more responsive to prices.
	The Planning Bill currently before Parliament already puts in place measures that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister believes will deliver a more responsive industry and a higher level of housebuilding. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also looks forward to seeing the recommendations in Kate Barker's final report in which she will present her policies. Only then will we be in a position to respond fully to any requirement for a higher level of housebuilding.

Brighton and Hove Albion

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which directors of Brighton and Hove Albion football club (a) he has and (b) other Ministers in his Department have met since 1 January 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Pursuant to my answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 342W, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister met Derek Chapman, Managing Director of Adenstar Construction Group, when he opened Adenstar's new offices in Portslade, Hove on 13 May 2003. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, was not made aware until last week that Mr. Chapman was a Director of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club.

Civil Servants (Secondment)

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether it is standard practice for civil servants from his Department who are seconded to other organisations to write a report to record their experiences and achievements during their secondment on their return from the secondment.

Yvette Cooper: The Office recognises the importance of setting objectives for each secondment and for evaluating the experiences and achievements of each secondee.
	The standard terms and conditions covering outward secondments require the secondee to "provide a brief report on their work".
	Reports are either verbal or written. Before secondees are posted within the Office on their return discussions are held to identify the skills and knowledge they have acquired during the secondment to ensure that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister benefits from these.

Council Housing Lists

Anthony Steen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to allow parity of access to council housing lists between council officials and elected councillors.

Keith Hill: The Homelessness Act 2002 made changes to the legislation governing the allocation of accommodation by local authorities (Part 6 of the Housing Act 1996) which came into force on 31 January this year. As a result, local authorities can exclude persons the housing waiting list in only very limited circumstances: namely, if they are certain persons from abroad (who are ineligible for an allocation) or if the authority has determined that they have been guilty of unacceptable behaviour serious enough to make them unsuitable to be a tenant (who may be treated as ineligible).
	Elected councillors are bound by the Local Authorities Model Code of Conduct (SI 2001 No. 3575). This does not restrict members' access to housing waiting lists, but does require them to register any interest that they have in land within the authority's area (including tenancies of council property). The Code also requires members to ensure that they do not use their position as a member improperly, to confer on or secure for themselves an advantage or disadvantage, or do anything that compromises the impartiality of those who work for the authority.

Council Tax

Frank Field: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what powers, in addition to existing age specific means-tested concessions on council tax, local or billing authorities have to offer discretionary council tax concessions to those over the age of 75.

Nick Raynsford: The Local Government Act 2003 provides a power for local billing authorities to offer a locally defined council tax discount if they wish on an individual basis, or for a class of council tax payer. This new power came into force on 18 November 2003. More generally local authorities may also be able to use their "well being" power under section 2 of the Local Government Act 2000. It is for local authorities to decide how they use such discretionary powers.

Council Tax

Ben Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on council tax bands for properties built after 1991.

Nick Raynsford: For property built after 1991, council tax valuations are based on an estimate of the price the property would have fetched if it had existed and been sold on 1 April 1991.

Council Tax

Ben Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice his Department gives to local councils on the banding for council tax purposes of homes built after 1991.

Nick Raynsford: The Valuation Office Agency is responsible for the banding of homes for council tax purposes. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister therefore gives no advice to local councils on this matter.

Decent Homes Standard

David Crausby: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what impact he estimates the Inland Revenue's ruling of 24 October will have on the standard of housing in (a) South Norfolk and (b) Newton Abbot;
	(2)  how the Government will support the local authority in its bid to achieve the 2010 Decent Homes Standard if the Inland Revenue's ruling of 24 October is upheld and as a result South Norfolk's proposed transfer of houses to the South Norfolk Housing Partnership does not take place;
	(3)  how the Government will support the local authority in its bid to achieve the 2010 Decent Homes Standard if the Inland Revenue's ruling of 24 October is upheld and as a result Newton Abbot's proposed transfer of houses to the Teignbridge Housing Association does not take place;
	(4)  what impact he estimates the delay in the transfer of homes to the (a) South Norfolk Housing Partnership and (b) Teignbridge Housing Association will have on the local authority's short-to-medium term housing policy;
	(5)  what he estimates will be the delay to the transfer of housing stock to the (a) South Norfolk Housing Partnership and (b) Teignbridge Housing Association while the Inland Revenue's ruling of 24 October is considered.

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the Inland Revenue's ruling of 24 October on the standard of housing in (a) Bromsgrove, (b) Skipton, (c) Letchworth, (d) Maidstone and (e) Hereford, with particular reference to funds available to spend on housing stock;
	(2)  how the Government will support (a) Skipton, (b) Hereford, (c) Letchworth and (d) Bury St. Edmunds in their bids to achieve the 2010 Decent Homes Standard, following the Inland Revenue's ruling of 24 October;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the delay in the transfer of homes to the (a) Bromsgrove District Housing Trust and (b) Maidstone Housing Trust on the local authority's short to medium term housing policy;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the Inland Revenue's ruling of 24 October on (a) Skipton's, (b) Letchworth's, (c) Bury St. Edmunds' and (d) Hereford's ability to achieve the 2010 Decent Homes Standard;
	(5)  what he estimates will be the delay to the transfer of housing stock to the (a) Bromsgrove District Housing Trust and (b) Maidstone Housing Trust while the Inland Revenue's ruling of 24 October is considered.

Keith Hill: It will be for each local authority and registered social landlord to consider the implications on their local circumstances and in particular on their decent home delivery plan of the Inland Revenue's preliminary opinion. While there might be slight delays in any particular transfer it is unlikely this will impact on either the standard of housing or an authority's short-to-medium term housing policy.

Departmental Costs

Graham Stringer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost has been so far of the information campaign, Elected Regional Assembly: Your Say; what the total budget is; and what the cost for each of the three regions in which referendums are to be held has been so far.

Nick Raynsford: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hexham (Mr. Atkinson) on 11 November 2003, Official Report, column 259W.

Departmental Spending

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his Department has spent on the acquisition of works of art in each year since 1997, broken down by amounts spent on (a) paintings and (b) sculpture; what the single most expensive piece of art purchased by his Department since 1997 has been; how much it cost; and what the total revenue raised by his Department through sales of works of art has been since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created 29 May 2002. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not spent any money purchasing works of art, and has sold none. As with previous Administrations, Government Departments are supplied Art work by the Government Art Collection (GAC) on a loan basis.

Deprivation

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the level of deprivation was in each local authority in England in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Since 1997, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and it's predecessor Department have published two Indices of Deprivation—the Index of Local Deprivation in 1998 and the Indices of Deprivation 2000. Tables containing the rankings for each local authority district in England for both years are available in the Libraries of the House.
	These two Indices are not directly comparable. The methodology for measuring deprivation was completely changed in 2000 and the range of indicators were extended in 2000 from 12 to 33.

Devonport Regeneration Company

Gary Streeter: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what complaints he has received against the Devonport Regeneration Company from Devonport community activists; what steps he intends to take to investigate matters; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Government Office for the South West (GOSW) has received a number of complaints about Devonport Regeneration Company and is working with the Company and Plymouth city council, the Company's accountable body, to address the issues raised.

Devonport Regeneration Company

Gary Streeter: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of (a) the performance of the Devonport Regeneration Company and (b) its compliance with Government guidelines in staff employment and the allocation of funds; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: All New Deal for Communities (NDC) programmes are subject to regular performance assessment by the relevant Government Office for the Region and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, which includes compliance with guidelines. The accountable body for each NDC is also required to carry out regular audits. The Government Office for the South West is working with Devonport Regeneration Company NDC and Plymouth city council, as the accountable body, to ensure improvements in the NDC's performance in a number of areas.

Ethnicity

Karen Buck: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans his Department has to include a measure of the effect of ethnicity in indices of deprivation; and what assessment he has made of relevant methodologies.

Yvette Cooper: There is no direct measure of black and minority ethnic concentrations proposed for inclusion in the revised Indices of Deprivation 2000 because not all BMEs are deprived.
	However the indicators proposed for inclusion in the revised Index do recognise the problems encountered by black and minority ethnic communities. For example, proposed housing indicators on homelessness, overcrowding and social and private housing in poor condition are all important issues for deprived BME communities. In terms of the Education, Skills and Training domain, indicators on school performance at Key Stages 2, 3 and 4 will identify areas where there are large numbers of children suffering educational deprivation. Similarly the indicator adult educational deprivation will be picked up through the proposed indicator on adults with 'no' or 'low' qualifications.

Ethnicity

Karen Buck: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effect of a person's ethnicity on their access to public services within the responsibilities of his Department.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published a Race Equality Scheme in May 2003. The scheme will monitor and assess policies and functions supporting public services, for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible. The Race Equality Scheme is published on our website, and is in the process of being updated. The revised published document will be available in the Library of the House in due course.

Fire Authorities

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much each fire authority is expected to contribute towards Audit Commission costs for its evaluation of the recent pay agreement.

Nick Raynsford: The Audit Commission has estimated the cost of the first phase of its verification of the local delivery of the recent pay and modernisation agreement will be £l million and the second phase £0.9 million. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Local Government Association (LGA) are discussing how best to meet this cost.

Fire Authorities

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made on the implications for Tri-Service Emergency operations of a move towards regional fire authorities.

Nick Raynsford: The Government keep emergency public safety cover arrangements under constant review and will continue to do so in the light of any future fire authority organisational changes.

Green Belt

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans there are to allow building on the green belt. [R]

Keith Hill: The Government's planning policies on Green Belts are set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 2 (PPG2). These policies include a general presumption against inappropriate development in the Green Belt. Most new building is inappropriate development in the Green Belt and should not be approved, except in very special circumstances. In preparing development plans for their area and determining planning applications, local planning authorities must have regard to the policies in PPG2 wherever green belt land would be affected. In its action programme, "Sustainable Communities: building for the future", published by the Office of theDeputy Prime Minister in February 2003, the Government included a target for each region to maintain or increase the area of land currently designated as Green Belt in local plans.

Homelessness

Harry Barnes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy that a housing applicant exiled from Northern Ireland because of intimidation should be accepted as homeless and entitled to an emergency payment.

Yvette Cooper: People fleeing violence or threat of violence in Northern Ireland and seeking homelessness assistance from a local housing authority in England would be treated on the same basis as any other applicant fleeing violence or a threat of violence likely to be carried out.
	Under the homelessness legislation (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002), local housing authorities must ensure that suitable accommodation is available for applicants who have become homeless through no fault of their own if they are eligible for assistance and fall within a priority need group (the main homelessness duty). Certain persons from abroad are ineligible for assistance. In deciding whether someone is homeless, authorities must consider whether it would be reasonable for someone to continue to occupy their current home. It would not be reasonable for someone to do so, if it was probable that continued occupation would lead to violence against the applicant, any member of his or her family or any other person who might reasonably be expected to live with the applicant.
	The priority need groups include families with dependant children, households that include a pregnant woman; young people aged 16 and 17 (except those owed certain duties by social services); care leavers aged 18 to 20; people who are vulnerable as a result of fleeing their home because of violence; people who are vulnerable as a result of time spent in care, in custody or in the armed services and people who are vulnerable as a result of some other special reason.
	Where an applicant is accepted as eligible for assistance, homeless through no fault of their own but not in priority need the housing authority must provide advice and assistance to help the applicant find accommodation for him or herself.
	People coming from Northern Ireland would be able to apply to Jobcentre Plus for a Crisis Loan from the Social Fund. These loans are intended for applicants who are unable to meet their immediate short-term needs either in an emergency or as a consequence of a disaster.
	The applicant does not have to be in receipt of any benefit, but the decision maker will generally take any income or capital that they have into account.
	The need for help will generally be for a specific item or service or immediate living expenses for a short period, not normally exceeding 14 days.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much money central government allocated to (a) London and (b) the London borough of Tower Hamlets to invest in social housing in each of the years from 1992 to 2005.

Nick Raynsford: The following tables show the funds allocated to London and to the London borough of Tower Hamlets to invest in social housing in the years 1992–2005. In summary London has been allocated some £14.1 billion up until 2004–05 and London borough Tower Hamlets has received some £670 million up to 2004–05.
	
		
			 London Total allocation 
		
		
			 1991–92 661,268 
			 1992–93 625,589 
			 1993–94 669,081 
			 1994–95 562.99 
			 1995–96 1,059,565 
			 1996–97 975,937 
			 1997–98 782,239 
			 1998–99 784,591 
			 1999–2000 783,409 
			 2000–01 1,094,458 
			 2001–02 1,221.92 
			 2002–03 1,288.101 
			 2003–04 1,222,685 
			 2004–05 1,039 
			 HAT 92–04 515 
			 Grand total 14,080,865 
		
	
	Note:
	Please note that yearly breakdowns for HAT funding was not available from the relevant organisations within the specified time limit.
	
		
			 Tower Hamlets Total allocation 
		
		
			 1991–92 24.813 
			 1992–93 20.674 
			 1993–94 23.197 
			 1994–95 17.946 
			 1995–96 29.512 
			 1996–97 36.656 
			 1997–98 32.011 
			 1998–99 27.811 
			 1999–2000 36.507 
			 2000–01 51.594 
			 2001–02 50.781 
			 2002–03 56.944 
			 2003–04 79.19 
			 2004–05 15.150 
			 EA 92–04 44.4 
			 HAT 92–04 123 
			 Grand total 670.186 
		
	
	Note:
	Please note that no figures were available for a full year-by-year breakdown for both EA and HAT within the specified time limits.

Legislation

John Redwood: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation sponsored by the Department in 2002–03 was introduced to implement EU requirements.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister did not sponsor any primary or secondary legislation during the 2002–03 session that implemented EU requirements.

Local Authority Management Organisations

Iain Coleman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the local authorities which have sought to set up Arms Length Management Organisations in 2003–04.

Keith Hill: The local authorities that have or are due to set up Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) in 2003–04 to improve the condition and management of their housing stock are those for which was announced conditional funding on 28 July. These are: Barnet, Camden, Easington, Gateshead, Harrow, High Peak, Islington, Newcastle, Poole, Sheffield, Solihull, South Lakeland and Warrington. Bids from local authorities seeking to set up ALMOs in 2004–05 are due by 31 December 2003.

Local Government Funding

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will list the (a) Inner London boroughs, (b) Outer London boroughs and (c) Metropolitan districts who will have no increase in the level of grant for local authority service components, as defined in the Local Government Finance 2004–05 Revenue Support Grant Settlement, excluding the settlement for education;
	(2)  if he will list the level of grant change for all local authority service components as defined in the Local Government Finance 2004–05 Revenue Support Grant Settlement, excluding education, for West Sussex county council.

Nick Raynsford: Formula grant distributed through the Local Government Finance settlement is not ring fenced for any purpose.

Local Government Funding

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on resolving shortfalls in income between the level of grant allocated to local authorities and the actual cost of the provision of services.

Nick Raynsford: Grant support to local authorities covers on average some 75 per cent. of their costs. The balance is funded through council tax. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister seeks to ensure that where new burdens are placed on councils by central government they are fully funded through the grant system.

Local Government Funding

Helen Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  when he will finish his review of local government funding following the Audit Commission report;
	(2)  what options he is examining to address the fundamental flaws mentioned in the Audit Commission review of local government funding.

Nick Raynsford: The Government's Balance of Funding Review, which I chair, is looking at how local government should be funded in future. It is taking evidence on a number of proposals for change identified in responses to the Review's public consultation. The Review is due to produce a final report of its work in summer 2004.

Projects (St. Helens)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which projects have been (a) wholly and (b) partly funded by his Department in St. Helens since 1997; when each project was announced; when it started or was expected to start; what funding was provided by (i) Government and (ii) a third party; what third party provided funding; what the target group of the project was; what the projected outcome of the project was; and what the name of the project was.

Yvette Cooper: Project support information is tabled as follows.
	
		
			 Project name Period Governmentfunding Other funding Source ofother funding Target group Projected outcomes 
		
		
			 Single Regeneration Budget (SRB)(28) (round 1) St. Helen's Southern Corridor 1995–06 to 1999–2000 £4.5 million Details not available — St. Helen's Town Centre Comprehensive regeneration strategy building on: road links with M62, existing public private partnerships. Wide range of employment and other benefits to residents. 
			
			 SRB (round 2) Newton 21 St. Helens 1996–07 to 2000–01 £14.08 million Details not available — Newton-le-Willows Intended to create a self sustaining community through a programme of economic, environmental, housing, training and education initiatives preparing residents for employment opportunities created by commercial development. 
			
			 SRB (round 4) The Parr Partnership St. Helens 1998–09 to 2003–04 £5.25 million £12.82 million Other public funding and private sector leverage Parr area of St. Helens Addressing problems faced by Parr residents including health and living environments, the needs for skills and training, and improvements to social, transport and recreation facilities. 
			
			 SRB(29) (round 5) St. Helens Count Me In 1999–2000 to 2003–04 £13.65 million £52.5 million Other public funding and private sector leverage Former Coalfield Community of St. Helens Major new centres of economic activity— stadium/leisure/conference centre; strategic site for employment; innovation centre to create new job opportunities. Environmental improvements. Capacity building, health initiatives and improved public transport links will address social inclusion. 
			
			 Community Empowerment Fund 2001–02 to 2003–04 £390,000 n/a n/a St. Helens local authority area To assist in establishing a Community Network to allow the community and voluntary sector to play a full and effective role in their Local Strategic Partnerships. 
			
			 Community Chest 2001–02 to 003/4 £518,000 n/a n/a St. Helens local authority area Provides grants to groups in Neighbourhood Renewal Fund areas for grass roots community activity. 
			
			 Community Learning Chest 2002–03 to 2003–04 £104,000 n/a n/a St. Helens local authority area Aims to increase the capacity, skills and knowledge of local residents to engage in Neighbourhood Renewal. 
			
			 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund(30) 2001–02 to 2003–04 £8.71 million n/a n/a St. Helens local authority area Aims to enable the local authority in collaboration with the Local Strategic Partnership to improve services, narrowing the gap between deprived areas and the rest of England. 
		
	
	(28) SRB funded through the North West Development Agency from April 1998.
	(29) Scheme ends 2005–06.
	(30) Funding allocated to 2005–06.

Small Businesses

Brian Cotter: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department uses a database of individual small businesses for consultation purposes.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister regularly consults the Small Business Service.

Travellers

James Paice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures are taken to ensure that members of the traveller community occupying unauthorised sites pay council tax.

Nick Raynsford: Council tax liability is based upon the identification of a "chargeable dwelling". Unauthorised sites are generally too transient to establish that a dwelling exists for the purposes of council tax. If, however, a caravan remains on private land for a period of at least six months, the listing officer may include an entry in the valuation list for council tax purposes. Council tax will then be collected by billing authority, based on the band in the list, by using their normal recovery procedures.

West Sussex County Council

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will give the percentage change in spending share for highways for West Sussex county council in 2003–04; and by how much this differs from the level of inflation.

Nick Raynsford: In 2003–04, West Sussex County Council's Highway Maintenance Formula Spending Share (FSS) was £25,071,558. Formula Spending Shares were introduced in 2003–04 and are not directly comparable with Standard Spending Assessments. In order to provide a comparison, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published Formula Spending Share Comparators. These are based on a control total that includes the additional resource equalisation amounts (comparable to 2003–04) but based on the 2002–03 formulae. The 2002–03 Highway Maintenance Formula Spending Share Comparator for West Sussex county council was £26,837,923. The percentage decrease in Highway Maintenance FSS for West Sussex county council was therefore 6.6 per cent. The October 2003 value of Retail Price Index Excluding Mortgages (RPIX)was l.7 per cent.
	Formula Spending Shares are neither grant nor the Government's estimate of how much an authority should spend on a particular service. West Sussex county council received a formula grant increase of 4.0 per cent. in 2003–04. It is up to each individual authority to set their budgets taking into account their local circumstances.

West Sussex County Council

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the percentage change in spending share for waste (EPCS) for West Sussex county council was in 2003–04; by how much this differs from the level of inflation; and if he will estimate what percentage of the change in spending share for waste (EPCS) would be spent on (a) implementing recycling targets and (b) increases in landfill taxes.

Nick Raynsford: Waste disposal and waste collection are covered by the general Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) Formula Spending Share (FSS).
	In 2003–04, West Sussex county council's EPCS FSS was £57,045,365. Formula Spending Shares were introduced in 2003–04 and are not directly comparable with Standard Spending Assessments. In order to provide a comparison, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published Formula Spending Share Comparators. These are based on a control total that includes the additional resource equalisation amounts (comparable to 2003–04) but based on the 2002–03 formulae. The 2002–03 EPCS Formula Spending Share Comparator for West Sussex county council was £56,119,688. The percentage increase in EPCS FSS for West Sussex county council was therefore 1.6 per cent. The October 2003 value of RPIX was 1.7 per cent.
	Formula Spending Shares are neither grant nor the Government's estimate of how much an authority should spend on a particular service. West Sussex county council received a formula grant increase of 4.0 per cent. in 2003–04. It is up to each individual authority to set their budgets taking into account their local circumstances.

HEALTH

"Valuing People"

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the targets for service improvements for adults with learning disabilities set out in the White Paper, Valuing People, to be achieved.

Stephen Ladyman: The White Paper, "Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century" (Cm 5086), published in March 2001, sets out our proposals for improving services for people with learning disabilities, their families and carers. The White Paper said that it would take a minimum of five years to make the changes it described.
	We have made good progress since "Valuing People" was published, with the basic framework for achieving change now in place:
	The Learning Disability Task Force
	Learning Disability Partnership Boards at local council level
	The National Forum of People with Learning Disabilities
	The Valuing People Support Team, headed by the National Director for Valuing People
	A range of guidance, and plans developed by partnership boards to deliver change locally in areas such as person-centred planning, employment, and housing and support.
	The Learning Disability Task Force monitors the progress of "Valuing People" and reports to the Government on this.
	Our annual report on learning disability, "Making Change Happen" (HC 514), published in April 2003, described the progress made in implementing the "Valuing People" proposals; a copy was sent to all English hon. and right hon. Members. Our next annual report will describe developments since April.

Ambulance Equipment

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average life span of (a) ambulances and (b) defibrillator batteries is; and what measures ambulance trusts are required to put in place to ensure that there is an orderly process by which to replace obsolescent equipment.

Rosie Winterton: The average life span of an ambulance is seven years for patient transport services and five years for accident and emergency ambulances.
	Defibrillators are supplied with rechargeable batteries. Different battery technologies are used by different suppliers. The majority of suppliers suggest that the battery, if used and maintained correctly, will last between two to three years. This equates to an 'in use time' of in excess of 100 full power shocks (the full power rating differs between machines).
	Community defibrillators—automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) which are currently in use in public places during this phase of the National Defibrillator Programme contain lithium batteries. The average life expectancy for this type of battery is five years, depending on the type of AED, the site it serves and the number of deployments.
	It is for each national health service trust to maintain records and have systems in place that ensure this equipment is maintained and replaced at the appropriate times.

Ambulance Staff

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many assaults have been recorded on ambulance staff in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

John Hutton: Recording details of incidents of assaults on staff is the responsibility of each individual national health service employing body.
	The figures presently available refer to reported violent incidents in ambulance trusts as opposed to actual assaults on staff and include incidents of verbal abuse. These figures are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Violent incidents 
		
		
			 1998–99 1,641 
			 2000–2001 3,882 
			 2001–02 4,778 
			 2002–03 5,412 
		
	
	The Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) was launched in April 2003, with a remit encompassing policy and operational responsibility for the management of security in the NHS. The CFSMS has introduced a national reporting system for recording physical assaults on staff and professionals working in the NHS with the ability to track cases and give accurate information on the level of assaults.

Ambulance Staff

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been convicted of assaulting ambulance staff in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what action is being taken to tackle violent crime against paramedics and other ambulance staff.

John Hutton: Information on the number of successful prosecutions of individuals who assault staff and professionals in the national health service, including ambulance staff, has not been routinely collected through any central mechanism.
	The Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) was launched in April 2003, with a remit encompassing policy and operational responsibility for the management of security in the NHS.
	The CFSMS has introduced a national reporting system for recording incidents of physical assault. The system uses a legally based definition of assault, with the ability to track cases from start to finish, thus allowing for intervention where appropriate and necessary, in order to ensure the best possible outcome for the person assaulted. This system will be able to produce hard and accurate data about physical assaults as well as number of prosecutions.
	The CFSMS has set up a Legal Protection Unit (LPU) to work with the police and Crown Prosecution Service to increase the number of prosecutions of persons who assault staff and professionals. The LPU will be providing health bodies with cost-effective advice on a wide range of sanctions, both civil and criminal, that can be taken against offenders.

Ambulance Staff

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what pay rises are planned for ambulance staff in the next 12 months.

John Hutton: The proposed new pay system for all non-medical national health service employees, including ambulance staff, "Agenda for Change", has been negotiated over the past four years by NHS staff and employer representatives working in partnership. This includes a three-year pay deal that will give a 10 per cent., pay increase to all staff for the period 2003–04 to 2005–06.
	From 1 April 2004, ambulance staff on national contracts will receive an uplift of 3.225 per cent., as part of this deal. From October 2004, when the new pay system is rolled out across the NHS, most ambulance staff are likely to receive further increases in pay on top of 3.225 per cent., but the impact on particular staff will vary depending on a range of factors, including the basic pay band to which their job matches and the amount of out-of-hours work they undertake.

Badgers (TB)

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the health implications for (a) ramblers and (b) their children of frequenting country areas in which infective material has been deposited by TB-infected badgers.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	No specific assessments has been made for ramblers and their children.
	The threat to public health from bovine TB is low and the disease is treatable. Of the 40 or so cases now seen each year in Britain the majority are in people over 55 years of age. These are thought to have been infected before the introduction of widespread pasteurisation of milk. This figure has remained stable despite the increasing incidence of TB in cattle. The geographical distribution of human cases does not reflect the spread of bovine TB in the cattle population. Arrangements are in place with the Department of Health to investigate the potential links to human health, and monitor human cases of M. bovis.

Big Conversation

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what visits (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department (i) have made and (ii) plan to make using public funds in connection with the Big Conversation; how many civil servants accompanied each Minister in respect of such visits; what the cost to public funds was of visits by (A) each Minister and (B) civil servants in connection with the Big Conversation; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, on 9 December 2003, Official Report, column 355W.

Blood Transfusions

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether virally inactivated fresh frozen plasma is available to the NHS for transfusions in respect of babies and young children born since 1 January 1996.

Melanie Johnson: The decision taken to import fresh frozen plasma (FFP) from the United States for young babies and children born after 1 January 1996 will provide additional protection to the most vulnerable group who will not have been exposed to BSE through the food chain. The National Blood Authority (NBA) is currently involved in negotiating for supplies of FFP for this group of patients. This FFP will be virally inactivated, and its planned availability will be in the New Year. In addition, the NBA also implemented viral inactivation for UK FFP for this patient group in August 2002. Viral inactivation is designed to remove certain viruses that may be transmitted by transfusion.

Body Mass Index

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the adult population had a body mass index greater than 25 in (a) England and (b) each region in each year since 1990.

Melanie Johnson: Figures available from the Health Survey for England have been placed in the Library. For those adult respondents with a valid height and weight measurement from which the body mass index could be calculated, it gives, for England, the percentage with a body mass index (BMI) over 25 by sex for the period 1991 to 2001 and by Government Office Region and sex for the period 1998 to 2001. Figures are not available for 1990. Figures prior to 1998 are not available by Government Office Region.

Breastfeeding

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish guidelines for primary care trusts on collection of statistics on breastfeeding.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 8 December 2003
	Guidelines for primary care trusts on the collection of statistics on breastfeeding initiation were made available to national health service staff on 28 November 2003 via the Department of Health's data collection website.

Cancer Survey

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the statistical tables analysing the national patient cancer survey to inform future surveys, commissioned by his Department and made available to the Commission for Health Improvement.

Melanie Johnson: The analysis of the national cancer patient survey is expected to be complete by spring 2004. A copy of the analysis will be placed in the Library.

Choice and Plurality Policies

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether patients will be able to choose their general practitioner under the Choice and Plurality policies.

John Hutton: Patients are already able to choose their general practitioner. "Building on the Best" (Cm 6079), published on 9 December 2003, commits us to extending the opportunities for patients to exercise this choice alongside the new general medical services contract which is now being implemented.

Choice and Plurality Policies

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the application of his Choice and Plurality policies to patients suffering from mental ill health.

John Hutton: On 9 December 2003, the Government published "Building on the Best: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS". This strategy document sets out areas for priority action and those for further exploration including recommendations made by the mental health task group. A copy of the document in available in the Library.

Civil Servants (Disablement)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many senior civil servants in his Department are disabled, expressed (a) in actual terms and (b) as a percentage of WTE staff.

Rosie Winterton: All staff are asked to volunteer information in our equal opportunities monitoring but they are under no compulsion to reply.
	Of those that have made a declaration in returned Equal Opportunities monitoring forms there are seven disabled staff in the senior civil service in the Department of Health—excluding its agencies and arms length bodies. This represents 2.33 per cent. of whole-time equivalent staff which currently stands at 300.5.

Closed GP Lists

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of (a) general practitioners and (b) general practices in England have been operating closed lists each month since January 1990.

John Hutton: The Department does not collect this information. However we know that closed lists are restricting the exercise of patient choice in some areas. The new general medical services contract addresses this problem by including arrangements for primary care trusts to offer support to those practices which face the possibility of needing to close their patient lists.

Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the appointment of Anna Walker as chief executive of the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection was made by the NHS Appointments Commission.

Rosie Winterton: No. The National Health Service Appointments Commission is not responsible for the appointment of executives. The appointment was made by the shadow Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection, in anticipation of paragraph 5(1) of Schedule 6 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003. As well as the shadow Chair and Commissioners, the selection panel included an independent panel member.

Community Hospitals

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds in community hospitals there were in each year since 1990.

John Hutton: The Department does not hold this information. However, the Community Hospitals Association carried out a survey, which was reported in the British Journal of General Practice (February 2001). This identified 471 community hospitals in the United Kingdom, containing 18,579 beds, and concluded there had not been a substantial reduction over the past 25 years.

Computer Games

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on developing computer games in each year since 1997, broken down by game.

Rosie Winterton: Computer games commissioned by the Department of Health's Communications Directorate since 1997 are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Game 
			  NHS Careers School Competition Mindnseek 
		
		
			 1997–98 — — 
			 1998–99 — — 
			 1999–2000 (31)— — 
			 2000–01 (31)— — 
			 2001–02 — — 
			 2002–03 — (31)— 
			 2003–04 — — 
		
	
	(31) Costs for these games cannot be identified as they were produced as a single element within a broader project.

Consultant Neurologists

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultant neurologists are employed in the NHS.

John Hutton: The number of consultant neurologists employed by the National Health Service was 407 as at June 2003.
	Between September 1999 and June 2003, the number of consultant neurologists working in the NHS increased by 102, or 33 per cent.

Consultation with Businesses

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department uses a database of individual small businesses for consultation purposes.

Rosie Winterton: The Department of Health does not use a central database of individual small businesses for consultation purposes. Individual client groups within the Department keep in touch with organisations operating within their policy responsibilities, as appropriate, but these bodies would rarely include small businesses. If a small business interest was identified, the Department would arrange for consultation through the small business service of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Consultation with Businesses

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of regulations introduced by the Department have been subject to a consultation period of less than 12 weeks since the introduction of the Code of Practice on Consultations.

Rosie Winterton: There is not always a direct correlation between Government consultations and individual regulations. For example, there would not be a consultation prior to certain statutory instruments setting up a new primary care trust or transferring property between national health service trusts.
	The Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Written Consultation came into effect on 1 January 2001. In the period 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2002, the Department of Health has published 124 consultations covered by the Code, of which 18 were less than 12 weeks.

Delayed Discharges

Marion Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 2003–04 delayed discharge statistics for England.

Stephen Ladyman: The latest figures on delayed discharge for Quarter 2, 2003–04 (September 2003) have been placed in the Library. The figures for Quarter 1 are available in the Library.

Delayed Discharges

Marion Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish statistics on the number of emergency readmissions to NHS hospitals of patients aged 75 and over in England, for each quarter since January, for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: Monitoring information on readmissions within 28 days of discharge is collected for all ages only. Information is available at primary care trust and strategic health authority level. Information for Quarter 4, 2002–03 (January 2003 to March 2003), Quarter 1, 2003–04 (April 2003 to June 2003) and Quarter 2, 2003–04 (July 2003 to September 2003) has been placed in the Library.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of dental treatment per (a) adult and (b) child registered patient was in the last year for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The average costs of a course of dental treatment in the general dental service for adult and children in England for the financial year 2002–03 are shown in the table.
	These costs are for payment made to the dentist for dental treatment and include the patient charges where applicable. Dentists also receive additional payments, unrelated to treatment provided, in recognition of the continuing care responsibility for registered patients. These payments contribute approximately 23 per cent. of dentists' gross earnings. Other additional payments, unrelated to treatment, contribute a further 10 per cent. of dentists gross earnings.
	Dentists receive a capitation payment for each child registered. The average cost of dental treatment for children excludes treatments covered by capitation payments.
	
		General Dental Service: Average cost of dental treatment—2002–03
		
			 England £ 
		
		
			 Children 36.6 
			 Adult 37.3 
		
	
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

Departmental Employees

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many staff were employed in his Department in each of the last six years broken down by (a) headcount, (b) part-time and (c) whole-time equivalents;
	(2)  how many staff have (a) joined and (b) left his Department in each of the last six years, broken down by (a) headcount, (b) part-time and (c) whole-time equivalents.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is available in the annual publication Civil Service Statistics which is published by the Cabinet Office. Copies of Civil Service Statistics 2002, which was published on 24 July 2003, and copies of Civil Service Statistics for the previous five years are available in the Library and at www.civil-service.gov.uk/statistics

Departmental Expenditure Limit

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reasons were for the transfer from the capital Departmental Expenditure Limit to the resource DEL of £318 million, as mentioned in the Winter Supplementary Estimates; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The transfer from capital is being used to support the Department's information management and technology programme, part of which will be accounted for as current expenditure and national health service spending by local primary care trusts and NHS trusts accounted for as current rather than capital expenditure.

Diabetes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public funding will be allocated to treatment of diabetes in fiscal year 2004–05.

Rosie Winterton: In his 2002 Budget announcement, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced the largest sustained increase in funding of any five-year period in the history of the national health service. Over the years 2003–04 to 2007–08, these plans mean that expenditure on the NHS will increase on average by 7.4 per cent., a year over and above inflation. However in keeping with the philosophy of "Shifting the Balance of Power", primary care trusts are free to decide the allocation of resources locally.

Diabetes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what investment is in place in diabetes management which will decrease the number of acute cases reaching hospital.

Rosie Winterton: The diabetes national service framework standards, published in 2001, noted that the risk and severity of diabetic ketoacidosis can be reduced by the provision of guidance and advice to people with diabetes on how to manage changes in blood glucose control that occur during other illnesses and pointed out that episodes of hypoglycaemia can be managed in the community, either by the person with diabetes, a relative or carer, their general practitioner or by ambulance personnel.
	"Improvement, Expansion and reform: the next three years", the planning and priorities framework for 2003–06, includes targets for diabetes services. One such target states the need for primary care trusts (PCTs) to update practice-based registers for people with diabetes by March 2006. This will help to ensure that they receive systematic treatment regimens and advice to help support them in managing their own condition, including acute episodes, more effectively.
	In his 2002 Budget announcement, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced the largest sustained increase in funding of any five-year period in the history of the national health service. Over the years 2003–04 to 2007–08, these plans mean that expenditure on the NHS will increase on average by 7.4 per cent., a year over and above inflation. However in keeping with the philosophy of "Shifting the Balance of Power", PCTs are free to decide the allocation of resources locally.

Doctor Recruitment

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what private agencies are used to recruit doctors from abroad; and what checks are put in place to ensure that these doctors meet the required standards.

John Hutton: National health service trusts are responsible for their own recruitment. Trusts are strongly advised when recruiting internationally to use only those agencies that are compliant to the code of practice for NHS employers involved in the international recruitment of healthcare professionals, published in 2001. The list of compliant agencies can be found on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/international.recruitment/agencylist-nhs-ref.htm.
	In order to practise as a doctor in the United Kingdom, a doctor must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and satisfy the GMC that they have the acquired necessary knowledge, skills and experience.

Doctor Recruitment

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it has been determined whether health professionals from (a) Hungary, (b) Slovakia and (c) Poland have the necessary qualifications to practise in this country after these countries join the European Union; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: All acceding states are committed to ensuring that the qualifications they award to doctors, dentists, pharmacists, midwives and nurses responsible for general care who begin their training on or after the date of accession meet specified minimum requirements. Only those who meet these requirements will then benefit from automatic recognition throughout the European Union.
	Practitioners from these states who are already qualified or who are currently in training must show that they either meet these requirements in full or have recent and substantial practice experience.

Drug Prescribing

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the increases in funding for National Institute for Clinical Excellence approved drug prescribing made to each mental health trust in the current year.

Rosie Winterton: Funding to meet recommendations of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has been included in the allocations notified to primary care trusts for the period 2003–04 to 2005–06. This funding is not separately identified.

Early Intervention Service

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Department's definition of an Early Intervention Service is, as envisaged in the priorities and planning framework 2003–06.

Rosie Winterton: The definition of an early intervention service, as envisaged in the priorities and planning framework 2003–06 is as follows:
	Early intervention in psychosis services provide quick diagnosis of the first onset of a psychotic disorder and appropriate treatment including intensive support in the early years.
	The service is for:
	People aged between 14 and 35 with a first presentation of psychotic symptoms
	People aged 14 to 35 during the first three years of psychotic illness
	An early intervention service should be able to:
	reduce the stigma associated with psychosis and improve professional and lay awareness of the symptoms of psychosis and the need for early assessment
	reduce the length of time young people remain undiagnosed and untreated
	develop meaningful engagement, provide evidence-based interventions and promote recovery during the early phase of illness.

East Sussex County Healthcare Trust

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the financial situation of the East Sussex County Healthcare Trust.

Rosie Winterton: The Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority is aware of the challenging financial position faced by the East Sussex County Healthcare National Health Service Trust. Financial recovery plans have been developed and are currently being implemented.
	I understand that the chief executive of the strategic health authority is currently arranging to meet local hon. Members to discuss the issues.

East Sussex County Healthcare Trust

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by (a) East Sussex County Healthcare and (b) primary care trusts in England on (i) locum doctors and (ii) agency nursing in each of the last five years; and what these sums were as a percentage of total NHS staff costs.

John Hutton: The figures shown in the table relate to all agency staff and other staff not directly employed by the national health service.
	
		
			  Expenditure by East SussexCounty Healthcare NHSTrust on non-NHS National PCT Expenditureon non-NHS 
			  Nurses Doctors Nurses Doctors 
		
		
			 2000–01 (£) (32)— (32)— (33)885,867 (33)437,999 
			 2000–01 (%) — — (34)0.004 (34)0.002 
			 2001–02 (£) (32)— (32)— (33)24,422,282 (33)5,122,963 
			 2001–02 (%) — — (34)0.105 (34)0.022 
			 2002–03 (£) (33)1,306,311 (33)1,335,544 (33)73,685,708 (33)17,691,400 
			 2002–03 (%) (34)3.63 (34)3.71 (34)0.284 (34)0.068 
			 2003–04 (£) (33)923,000 (33)1,653,750 (36)— (36)— 
			 2003–04 (%) (34)3.87 (34),(35)6.93 — — 
		
	
	(32) Trust not established
	(33) Total Expenditure
	(34) As a percentage of all staff expenditure
	(35) For first seven months of year
	(36) Figure not yet available

Electronic Recruitment

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department's electronic recruitment project will start to operate; what sums have been invested in the system; what savings are expected in the NHS recruitment advertising budget; what the reach of the system will be in numerical terms; and whether the NHS will continue to use the print media and other forms of advertising after the electronic system is introduced.

John Hutton: The NHS Careers jobs board pilot (www.nhs.uk/jobs) was launched on 1 December. The cost of the service will be £6 million over a five-year contract. Savings in advertising costs are estimated to be around £24 million a year once national rollout has been achieved. This estimate is based upon a 75 per cent. take-up over three years. The service will be voluntary and all savings will be directed to local patient care. The National Health Service will continue to use a wide range of media in order to attract the best candidates.

EU-required Legislation

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation sponsored by his Department in 2002–03 was introduced to implement EU requirements.

John Hutton: During 2002–03, the Department sponsored no primary legalisation to implement European Union measures and three per cent. of the 208 pieces of secondary legislation were of EU origin.

Fair Trade Products

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is the policy of his Department to use fair trade products, as a matter of course, in (a) sales on Departmental premises and (b) receptions and meetings involving staff and visitors.

Rosie Winterton: This Department's catering is supplied under contract. The contracting company's policy is to buy fair trade goods from its suppliers and has a commitment to support fair trade.

Foundation Hospitals/Trusts

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what written representations he has received from the British Medical Association (Scotland) on the subject of foundation hospitals.

John Hutton: None.

Foundation Hospitals/Trusts

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what impact Government amendments on the governance of foundation trusts to the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 will have on the validity of the consultation currently in progress.

John Hutton: None. Section 6(5) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 sets out that the Independent Regulator may not authorise an applicant as a national health service foundation trust unless satisfied that the applicant has sought the views of specified persons. The Department of Health guidance, issued to first wave applicants in August, is consistent with the requirements in the Act. The Secretary of State will only support applications where there is evidence that consultation has taken place in line with this guidance.

Health Boards Composition

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of board members of (a) primary care trusts and (b) hospital trusts are from ethnic minorities.

Rosie Winterton: As at 1 December 2003, 10.4 per cent. of chairs and non-executives on the boards of primary care trusts and 10.2. per cent. of chairs and non-executives on national health service trust boards were black or from ethnic minorities.

Health Funding

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he gives to NHS trusts on the funding of treatments that will not be appraised by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

Rosie Winterton: In August 1999, the Department issued Health Service Circular 1999/176, which asks national health service bodies to continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies where guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence is not available at the time the technology first becomes available. These arrangements should involve an assessment of all the available evidence.

Health Visiting

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the role health visitor members will have on the Nursing and Midwifery Council if there is not (a) a statutory profession of health visiting and (b) a register of health visitors.

John Hutton: Health visitors will be included in the third part of the Nursing and Midwifery Council register, which covers specialist community and public health nurses. The Nursing and Midwifery Order 2002, requires that each part of the register must have an equal number of registrant members on the Council. Their role will be to play a full part in the regulation of nurses and midwives, including health visitors.

Health Visiting

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will be able to use the title health visitor after April 2004.

John Hutton: When the new register opens in April 2004, the designated titles of the parts of the new register will be the protected titles. The Nursing and Midwifery Council does not propose to have a part of the new register with the designated title of health visitor. However, public protection will be assured because anyone proposing to work in a health visiting role must be registered on the specialist community public health nurse part of the register.

Health Visiting

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what risk assessment was undertaken by the Nursing and Midwifery Council with respect to public risk before removing statutory protection from the title registered health visitor.

John Hutton: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has undertaken a series of public consultations on its proposals made under the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001, including the structure and titles of the parts of the new register.
	The Order recognised the expanding role of specialists in community and public health nursing, which includes health visiting. The NMC is proposing protected titles and parts of the register which reflect that expanding role.

Healthy Eating Schemes

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the basis is for the Government's policy that a potato is not a vegetable for the purposes of healthy eating schemes.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 9 December 2003
	Foods are classified according to the main nutrients they contribute to the diet. Potatoes provide mainly carbohydrate in the form of starch whereas foods classified as fruit and vegetables provide much less carbohydrate.

Heart Disease

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has met (a) milestones one to four for primary care management of heart failure and (b) milestones one to three for hospitals admitting patients for the management of heart failure in the national service framework for coronary heart disease.

Melanie Johnson: The national health service has made good progress on the milestones for management of heart failure. We have made the improvement of care for patients with heart failure a major priority in the next phase of implementation of the coronary heart disease (CHD) national service framework (NSF). The importance of tackling service improvement in this area is reflected in the 2003–06 Priorities and Planning Framework targets for CHD:
	"Improve the management of patients with heart failure in line with the NICE Clinical Guideline due in 2003, and set local targets for the consequent reduction in patients admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of heart failure."
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence guideline was published in July this year and, combined with the new general medical services contract, will be a significant driver in improving services for heart failure patients and meeting the NSF standard.

HFEA

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what selection process the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority follow when appointing new members to the Authority.

Melanie Johnson: All members of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are appointed by the Secretary of State for Health, in consultation with the devolved administrations, in accordance with Schedule 1 (4) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, and in line with the Code of Practice of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

High Security Infectious Diseases Unit

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) purpose and (b) cost is of the high security infectious diseases unit; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: There are two high security infectious disease units in the United Kingdom, one in London at Coppett's Wood Hospital and one in Newcastle at the Newcastle General Hospital. They provide the UK's specialist facilities to care for patients suffering from rare, highly infectious and dangerous diseases such as Ebola and Lassa Fevers.
	The Department provides funding for the running costs of the high security infectious disease units. This is currently £454,000 plus £47,000 (Scottish Executive contribution) per annum.
	These units exist as a contingency arrangement. Sufficient medical, nursing and laboratory staff, who are routinely involved in the treatment, care and diagnosis of patients with infectious diseases, are on call for the medium and high security infectious disease units. This ensures that they maintain equipment and participate in regular training exercises so that the units remain in a state of readiness to admit and care for patients securely, in the event of need.

Hospices

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much money the NHS is spending in 2003–04 on hospice provision for (a) children and (b) adults;
	(2)  how many places in hospices are specifically designated for children.

Melanie Johnson: Information on national health service expenditure on hospice provision is not held centrally.
	Children's hospices are funded from general NHS funding. As with adult hospices, this is a matter for local discussion and agreement. In addition, a central budget of £50 million per annum has been set up to meet the commitment in the NHS Cancer Plan to increase NHS funding for specialist palliative care, including hospices, by £50 million by 2004. The central budget is for all specialist palliative care services, including voluntary hospices. The level of funding for hospices, both from local allocation from the additional £50 million and from local resources, is a matter for local discussion and agreement.
	Children's hospices have also received support from within the New Opportunities Fund, which is funding over 130 projects in England, with £48 million over three years, in support of initiatives for children with life threatening illnesses.
	Information on the number of places in hospices designated for children is not collected centrally.

Hospices

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total current bed capacity is in hospices.

Melanie Johnson: There are approximately 2,043 specialist palliative care beds in the voluntary sector and 480 beds in the national health service in England (January 2003). This statistical information relating to the number of NHS/voluntary beds has been taken from Hospice Information, an independent organisation who are a resource for hospice and palliative care services.

Hospital Amalgamation

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with senior executives of London health authorities concerning hospital amalgamation.

John Hutton: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health, has had no recent discussions with senior executives of London strategic health authorities concerning hospital amalgamation.

Identity Cards

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department of the introduction of compulsory identity cards.

John Hutton: The introduction of such a scheme is a long-term undertaking and the Department will be involved in ongoing analysis of the benefits and costs. It is too early at present to assess fully the implications of the introduction of compulsory identity cards for the Department of Health.

Insulin

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for how long he estimates insulin manufacturers will continue to supply animal insulin for those who rely upon it.

Rosie Winterton: There are two companies supplying animal insulin in the United Kingdom. The Department of Health is in regular contact with these companies and both have confirmed that they will continue to supply animal insulin for the foreseeable future.

Junior Doctors

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the costing implications for the NHS of the Jaeger decision on working hours for junior doctors in the United Kingdom.

John Hutton: The costs of implementing the Working Time Directive (WTD) are an integral part of modernising and improving national health services and of NHS planning. The NHS has been aware of the implications of implementing the WTD for doctors in training since 2000 and planning for it forms part of overall NHS planning. Strategic health authorities are currently ensuring that plans will achieve compliance by 2004.

Junior Doctors

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the impact of the Jaeger decision on working hours for doctors on the ability of his Department to meet the deadline for implementation of the Working Time Directive by 2012; and what action his Department is taking to meet this deadline.

John Hutton: The Jaeger judgment introduced unexpected case-law on compensatory rest. We are seeking legal advice on this issue and will issue guidance to the service shortly.
	Implementation of the Working Time Directive (WTD) is an integral element of the national health service modernisation agenda. We have taken vigorous action to equip the NHS to meet the WTD deadline. NHS funding is expected to increase by an average of 7.4 per cent. in England over each of the next five years. This significant increase includes provision for the impact of the WTD. In addition, £46 million has been allocated over a three year period on top of baseline funding to cover costs associated with the set-up of new ways of working. The WTD pilot sites are testing solutions such as extended roles for non-medical staff, multi-disciplinary teams, networking between sites and consultants working differently. Lessons from the pilots are being disseminated through the WTD bulletin, "Calling Time". Priority is being given to hospitals facing WTD challenges when considering the allocation of 1,500 additional locally funded specialist registrar training opportunities available this year.

Legislation

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pages of (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation his Department put through Parliament in 2002–03.

John Hutton: The Department of Health sponsored two Bills during the 2002–03 session, which made a total of 214 pages once enacted.
	In the case of secondary legislation, the Department was responsible for the making of 208 General Statutory Instruments, which would have been considered by either the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments or the Select Committee on Statutory Instruments. These instruments made a total of 1,402 pages.

Manager Suspensions

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) cost of suspensions of managers in the NHS in (i) England and (ii) each region in each of the last six years.

John Hutton: No such data collection exercise is undertaken by the Department.

Maternity Services

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he would make a statement on the role midwives play in public health.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 11 December 2003
	Midwives play a key role in public health, as part of the multidisciplinary team providing pregnancy care. They are often the main pregnancy care provider and are in an ideal position to provide information and support in areas such as parenting, breastfeeding, smoking cessation and early detection and referral for women experiencing domestic violence or post natal depression.

Maternity Services

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the number of midwife-led maternity units.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 11 December 2003
	The national health service provides a variety of types of care for women during pregnancy and childbirth including care in midwife-led units for low risk births. The Government expects this variety to continue and does not support any one single model of maternity service provision in preference to all others. We advocate local decision making in designing appropriate, effective services within available resources. It is inevitable that the requirements of women will vary in different parts of the country and this is why it is so important that decisions about service provision are made at a local level and informed by the ethos of woman-centred care.

Maternity Services

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to expand the community-based role of midwives.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 11 December 2003
	Midwives currently provide an integrated service across primary and acute care sectors. Next year we shall be publishing the children's national service framework (NSF) which includes maternity services. The NSF will outline our plans for maternity services for the next 10 years and will examine the healthcare professionals needed to ensure that women's individual needs are met.

Maternity Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many midwives (a) took up and (b) resigned from posts in the NHS, in (i) England and (ii) each region in each year since 1997, broken down by strategic and area health authority;
	(2)  what proportion of midwife vacancies have remained vacant for more than three months in (a) England and (b) each region, in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: Information on the number of midwives resigning from or taking up posts in the national health service is not collected centrally. The Department collects information on the number of midwives employed in the NHS as at 30 September each year. As at September 2002, there were 860 more midwives employed in the NHS than in 1997.
	Information on the number of midwives employed in the NHS since 1997 and the rate of vacancies for midwives lasting three months or more since 1999, the first year the data were collected, by strategic health authority and Government Office for the Region has been placed in the Library.

Maternity Services

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list departmental targets relating to midwives and midwifery.

John Hutton: There are no specific departmental targets relating to midwives or midwifery. Midwives are included in the NHS Plan, manifesto and "Delivering the NHS Plan" targets for increasing the number of nurses, midwives and health visitors employed in the national health service and the number of nurses and midwives entering training each year. The targets are for 20,000 more nurses, midwives and health visitors by 2004 over 1999 levels, 20,000 more by 2005 over 2000 levels, and 35,000 more by 2008 over 2001 levels respectively, and for 5,500 more nurses and midwives entering training each year by 2004 over 1999 levels.
	My right hon. Friend the Member for Darlington, speaking at the Royal College of Midwives conference in May 2001, stated that we expect there to be an extra 2,000 midwives employed in the NHS by 2006 over 2000 levels. As at September 2002, there were 680 more midwives employed in the NHS than in 2000.

Men's Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce a chlamydia screening programme for men.

Melanie Johnson: The chlamydia screening programme, which is being implemented nationally, actively promotes screening for both men and women. The programme is also targeting men that do not traditionally use health services by introducing screening at venues such as armed forces bases and male prisons. The Department of Health have also commissioned the Men's Health Forum to oversee the 'Men and Chlamydia Project'. This project will increase men's awareness of chlamydia, promote the adoption of safer sex practices and encourage men to seek screening and treatment where appropriate.

Mental Health

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times were for child and adolescent mental health services in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each strategic health authority in each of the last six years; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The table shows the average waiting time for the first consultant out-patient appointment following general practitioner written referral to child and adolescent psychiatry.
	The "Emerging Findings" of the children's national service framework (published April 2003) recognised the importance in a comprehensive child and adolescent mental health service of having agreed protocols in place to manage waiting lists and times according to need.
	
		Average waiting times for 1st consultant out-patient appointment following GP written referral to child & adolescent psychiatry
		
			 England/Regional Office/StrategicHealth Authority Median waiting time (weeks) 
		
		
			 Quarter 4 1997–98  
			 England 6.3 
			 Northern & Yorkshire 3.6 
			 Trent 6.7 
			 West Midlands 7.2 
			 North West 8.7 
			 Eastern 7.3 
			 London 7.3 
			 South East 6.4 
			 South West 5.7 
			   
			 Quarter 4 1998–99  
			 England 5.7 
			 Northern & Yorkshire 3.8 
			 Trent 7.3 
			 West Midlands 5.4 
			 North West 5.6 
			 Eastern 9.4 
			 London 3.4 
			 South East 5.2 
			 South West 6.9 
			   
			 Quarter 4 1999–2000  
			 England 6.3 
			 Northern & Yorkshire 5.3 
			 Trent 8.5 
			 West Midlands 5.7 
			 North West 7.8 
			 Eastern 8.3 
			 London 9.5 
			 South East 4.2 
			 South West 3.9 
			   
			 Quarter 4 2000–01  
			 England 4.2 
			 Northern & Yorkshire 6.9 
			 Trent 5.1 
			 West Midlands 3.7 
			 North West 7.7 
			 Eastern 7.6 
			 London 9.8 
			 South East 5.6 
			 South West 2.9 
			   
			 Quarter 4 2001–02  
			 England 4.2 
			 Northern & Yorkshire 6.9 
			 Trent 5.1 
			 West Midlands 3.7 
			 North West 7.7 
			 Eastern 7.6 
			 London 9.8 
			 South East 5.6 
			 South West 2.9 
			   
			 Quarter 4 2001–02  
			 England 6.8 
			 Northern & Yorkshire 6.7 
			 Trent 5.9 
			 West Midlands 8.7 
			 North West 6.3 
			 Eastern 8.3 
			 London 9.8 
			 South East 6.0 
			 South West 6.9 
			   
			 Quarter 4 2002–03  
			 England 6.5 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 9.6 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA 8.5 
			 Essex HA (37)— 
			 North West London HA (37)— 
			 North Central London HA 3.9 
			 North East London HA (37)— 
			 South East London HA 10.0 
			 South West London HA 3.1 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 6.5 
			 County Durham & Tees Valley 5.9 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA 6.3 
			 West Yorkshire HA 26.0 
			 Cumbria & Lancashire HA 6.1 
			 Greater Manchester HA 5.4 
			 Cheshire & Merseyside HA 8.5 
			 Thames Valley HA 10.8 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA 8.5 
			 Kent and Medway HA 6.6 
			 Surrey and Sussex HA 3.2 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire & Wiltshire HA 7.1 
			 South West Peninsula HA 3.4 
			 Somerset & Dorset HA 3.7 
			 South Yorkshire HA 4.5 
			 Trent HA 8.8 
			 Leicestershire. Northamptonshire and Rutland HA 8.2 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire HA 4.1 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country HA 9.8 
			 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire HA 17.4 
			   
			 Quarter 2 2003–04  
			 England 5.3 
			 Norfolk. Suffolk and Cambridgeshire HA 3.9 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire HA (37)— 
			 Essex HA 19.5 
			 North West London (37)— 
			 North Central London 8.5 
			 North East London 16.9 
			 South East London 26.0 
			 South West London HA 2.3 
			 Northumberland. Tyne and Wear 6.0 
			 County Durham & Tees Valley 8.3 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire HA 7.9 
			 West Yorkshire HA 3.5 
			 Cumbria & Lancashire HA 6.6 
			 Greater Manchester HA 5.6 
			 Cheshire & Merseyside HA 6.3 
			 Thames Valley HA (37)— 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight HA 2.4 
			 Kent and Medway HA 5.1 
			 Surrey and Sussex HA 2.6 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire & Wiltshire HA 8.0 
			 South West Peninsula HA 3.3 
			 Somerset & Dorset HA 4.0 
			 South Yorkshire HA 5.5 
			 Trent HA 4.6 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland HA 8.7 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire HA 7.2 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country HA 11.7 
			 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire HA 6.6 
		
	
	(37) unable to calculate due to small numbers
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08R

Mental Health

Marion Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many graduate primary care mental health workers were employed by the NHS on the latest date for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The NHS Plan set out that 1,000 new graduate primary care mental health workers trained in brief therapy techniques of proven effectiveness will be employed by December 2004 to help general practitioners manage and treat common mental health problems in all age groups, including children. Revenue allocations to support the appointment of 1,000 such staff were made this financial year (2003–04). Central information on the number appointed began to be captured in September by the Durham Mapping Database at www.dur.ac.uk/service.mapping. However, the information is not yet complete.

Mental Health

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the incidence of people who are diagnosed as having a mental illness who also have a drug or alcohol dependency.

Rosie Winterton: There has been no national assessment of the incidence of people who are diagnosed as having a mental illness who also have a drug dependency.
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for compiling, analysing and disseminating information relating to the United Kingdom's economic, social and demographic statistics. Their report "Psychiatric morbidity among adults living in private households, 2000" is available on the website at www.statistics.gov.uk. Along with others due for publication, the report contains valuable information about the prevalence of mental disorders including those with problems relating to substance misuse amongst adults over the age of 16 in private households.
	The Government's latest assessment of the numbers of people who have a mental illness and who also suffer from alcohol dependence is contained in the Interim Analytical Report published by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's strategy unit on 19 September 2003.

Mental Health

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that appropriate services are available locally for people who have been diagnosed as having a mental illness who also have a drug or alcohol dependency.

Rosie Winterton: The Government guidance on "Dual Diagnosis Good Practice Guide" sets out policy and good practice in the provision of mental health services for people with severe mental health problems who are also experiencing difficulties with drug and alcohol problems. It is aimed at all those who commission and provide mental health and substance misuse services and sets out a clear framework within which staff should continue to develop services in partnership with patients and their carers and families.

Mental Health

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate information and support is available for carers of people who have been diagnosed as having a mental illness who also have a drug or alcohol dependency.

Rosie Winterton: The Department of Health published guidance on "Developing services for carers and families of people with mental health illness" in November 2002. The guide is aimed at helping local mental health services develop support services for carers of people with mental health problems.
	The Department also published "Dual Diagnosis Good Practice Guide" in May 2002. The guide sets out policy and good practice in the provision of mental health services for people with severe mental health problems who are also experiencing difficulties with any drug, including alcohol. It is aimed at all those who commission and provide mental health and substance misuse services and sets out a clear framework within which staff should continue to develop services in partnership with patients and their carers and families.
	In addition, the Government's Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England is due to be published in the new year and will be implemented from 2004 in accordance with the timetable set out in the NHS Plan. This strategy will set the future direction for the development of alcohol treatment, which will encompass and be of relevance to carers as well.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what he attributes the rise in the number of children aged 0–14, treated by mental health trusts in West Sussex between 1996–97 and 2001–02.

Rosie Winterton: This is a matter for Western Sussex Primary Care Trust.
	I understand that the rise in children aged 0–14 treated by mental health trusts can be attributed to the creation of an Assertive Outreach team in 2001 which is based in one of the West Sussex Health and Social Care National Health Service Trust's two in-patient units.
	The team works with children coming in to and leaving hospital. As a result, the number of children and young people the trust sees has increased.

MRSA

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the statistics for England for quarter 1 and quarter 2 of the 2003–04 on MRSA collated in the mandatory MRSA bacteraemia surveillance scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 3 December 2003
	Results for the first quarter of 2003–04 (April to June 2003) of the mandatory surveillance scheme are available in the Communicable Disease Report Weekly of 18 September 2003, available at www.hpa.org.uk/cdr/PDFfiles/2003/cdr3803.pdf. A total of 1,823 reports were received.
	Data for the second quarter (July to September 2003) will be published shortly.

Nappies

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS hospital trusts have contractual arrangements with promoters of baby products which prevent them from making information about re-usable nappies available; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: I am not aware of any contractual arrangements preventing hospital trusts providing information about re-usable nappies. Parents are given two comprehensive manuals, "The Pregnancy Book" and "Birth to Five", also available at http://www. doh.gov.uk/birthtofive/. Both manuals give detailed information on disposable and reuseable nappies including information about nappy laundering services and contact details for voluntary groups which support the use of re-usable nappies. It is then up to parents or carers to choose which type of nappy to use.

National Patient Safety Agency

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the appointment of Lord Hunt of Kings Heath as chairman of the National Patient Safety Agency was made by the NHS Appointments Commission.

Rosie Winterton: Yes, the appointment was made by the National Health Service Appointments Commission. The noble Lord Hunt of Kings Heath was interviewed by a panel, including an independent member, in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

National Service Framework for Renal Services

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what measures the forthcoming National Service Framework for Renal Services module on the effective delivery of dialysis will put in place to increase (a) the availability of and (b) equality of access to dialysis services;
	(2)  when he intends to publish the modules of the National Service Framework for Renal Services on the effective delivery of dialysis and transplantation; and what the timescale is for the development and publication of the modules on primary prevention and alternative models of care;
	(3)  how the forthcoming National Service Framework for Renal Services module on transplantation will incorporate the Transplant Framework for England, Saving Lives, Valuing Donors;
	(4)  what measures will be included in the the forthcoming National Service Framework for Renal Services specifically to increase care in the treatment and management of renal disease among ethnic minorities;
	(5)  whether he intends to publish an implementation plan alongside the National Service Framework for Renal Services, with specific timelines for implementation.

Rosie Winterton: The national service framework (NSF) for renal services will be published shortly. It will set standards of care for people with renal failure to be achieved over the next 10 years. Details of how the standards can be implemented will be embraced in the document. The NSF will build upon other work, including the "National Service Framework for Diabetes and Saving Lives, Valuing Donors: a Transplant Framework for England". Work on the primary prevention and care towards the end of life modules is in development.

NHS Contractors

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the revenue recovered by the NHS for charging contractors for receiving tender documents in each of the last three years. [R]

John Hutton: Neither the Department of Health nor national health service bodies charge contractors for receiving tender documents.

NHS Costs

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of the national health service per head of population was in each year since 1996–97; and what the estimated cost is for each year from 2003–04 to 2005–06 in (a) each of the English regions and (b) Suffolk.

John Hutton: Available information on the average amount of national health service spending per weighted head for the former English Regions and the Suffolk Health Authority area for 1996–97 to 2001–02 has been placed in the Library. This information is not available in the same format for 2002–03. Information on the average spending per weighted head for the strategic health authorities in 2002–03 has also been placed in the Library, although the Suffolk area cannot be separately identified after 2001–02, along with revenue allocations per weighted head for 2003–04 to 2005–06.

NHS Reservists

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff are deployed as reservists in Iraq.

John Hutton: The Department does not collect details centrally of the number of national health service staff deployed as reservists in Iraq. The number of NHS staff in Iraq with reservist commitments is dependent on operational circumstances.

NHS Secondees

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS employees in (a) medical and (b) non-medical posts are on secondment to developing countries.

John Hutton: The Department does not collect data on numbers of national health service employees in medical and non-medical posts currently on secondment to developing countries.

NHS Staff

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff, employed within the central function, are employed in (a) personnel, (b) finance, (c) information technology, (d) legal services, (e) library services, (f) health education and (g) general management support services.

John Hutton: The information requested is not collected centrally. As at 30 September 2002, 85,706 people were employed in the National Health Service in central functions within the NHS infrastructure support staff group.

NHS Staff

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timescale is for the introduction of a national incident reporting system for recording physical assaults on NHS staff.

John Hutton: The Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS) was launched in April 2003 with a remit encompassing policy and operational responsibility for the management of security in the national health service. The CFSMS has developed a national reporting system for recording incidents of physical assault. The system uses a legally based definition with the ability to track cases from report to conclusion and is designed to give hard and accurate information on both the nature and scale of assaults.
	Secretary of State Directions were issued to health bodies in November 2003 to ensure that a consistent approach is taken with regards to the recording of physical and non-physical assaults. The national recording system for physical assaults came into operation on 8 December 2003.

Organ Transplants

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many organ transplants took place in (a) St. Helens and (b) Merseyside in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Main operation; transplant operations—Liverpool, St. Helen's and Knowsley Health Authorities—treatment count of finished consultant episodes NHS hospitals, 2000–01 to 2002–03
		
			  St. Helen's and Knowsley Liverpool 
		
		
			 2000–01 0 82 
			 2001–02 0 80 
			 2002–03 0 78 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Finished Consultant Episode (FCE):
	An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.
	2. Grossing:
	Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data, except for 2001–02 and 2002–03 which are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	3. Main operation:
	The main operation is the first recorded operation in the HES data set, and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) Department of Health.

Osteoporosis

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts have developed policies for osteoporosis in their health improvement programmes for older people; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The national service framework for older people sets clear milestones for the planning and development of integrated falls services and provides the basis for a service model that will deliver improvements in prevention, care, treatment and rehabilitation. The most recent reports we have from strategic health authorities indicate that all but a few of the primary care trust local delivery plans include actions to achieve the 2005 milestone. We have collected no systematic information on what local plans cover.

Overnight Hospital Stays

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was to the NHS in (a) England and (b) each strategic health authority of overnight stays for patient visitors in NHS beds in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The Department does not collect information relating to patient visitors.

Paediatricians

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many consultant paediatricians are currently employed in the NHS on a (a) part-time and (b) full-time basis;
	(2)  how many new consultant paediatricians have been appointed in each of the last six years;
	(3)  what the age profile is of consultant paediatricians currently working in the NHS.

John Hutton: The Department does not collect data on the number of newly appointed consultant paediatricians. Workforce data are collected through the annual Department of Health medical workforce census. The census is a snapshot of data as at 30 September in the appropriate year. The information in table 1 shows the net increases in the number of paediatric consultants since 1997.
	
		Table 1: Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Staff Consultants in the paediatric group of specialities—England -- Number (headcount)
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 March 2003 June 2003 
		
		
			 Paediatrics Group 1,227 1,299 1,355 1,443 1,507 1,695 1,768 1,801 
			 Of which: 
			 Paediatric cardiology 16 17 18 23 29 64 58 63 
			 Paediatrics 1,211 1,282 1,337 1,420 1,478 1,631 1,710 1,738 
		
	
	Note:
	All data as at 30 September except 2003 which is at 31 March and 30 June.
	Source:
	Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census.
	Between September 1997 and June 2003, there has been a 47 per cent. increase in the number of consultants in the paediatrics group.
	Table 2 shows how many consultant paediatricians were employed in the national health service on (a) part-time and (b) whole-time basis as at 30 June 2003.
	
		Table 2: Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Consultants within the paediatrics group of specialties by nature of contract -- Number (headcount)
		
			 As at June 2003 All contracts Full-time(38) Part-time Honorary 
		
		
			 Paediatric Group 1,801 1,360 290 151 
			 Of which: 
			 Paediatric cardiology 63 45 7 11 
			 Paediatrics 1,738 1,315 283 140 
		
	
	(38) Consists of staff on whole time and maximum part time contracts
	Note:
	In these figures, honorary doctors are staff who provide clinical services to an NHS organisation whilst not having a paid substantive or locum contract with that organisation.
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.
	The age profiles of consultants in the paediatric group working in the NHS, as at June 2003, are shown in table 3.
	
		Table 3: Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Staff Consultants in the paediatric group of specialities -- Number (headcount)
		
			Of which: 
			 England at 30 June 2003 All ages 30–34 35–39 40–44 45–49 50–54 55–59 60–64 65–69 70 and over 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Paediatrics Group 1,801 18 280 430 412 322 238 80 20 1 
			 Of which:   
			 Paediatric cardiology 63 0 10 18 14 7 7 5 2 0 
			 Paediatrics 1,738 18 270 412 398 315 231 75 18 1 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census

Pain Management Services

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take steps to ensure that regional variations in the provision of pain management services are tackled;
	(2)  what guidance is issued by strategic health authorities on the management of chronic pain in primary and secondary care;
	(3)  if he will ensure that the recommendations of the Clinical Standards Advisory Group report into pain services are fully implemented;
	(4)  if he will commission a review into provision of pain services, based upon the reforms undergone by the national health service since the Clinical Standards Advisory Group report in 2000;
	(5)  whether, in light of the Dr. Foster report, Adult Chronic Pain Management Services in the UK, he will reiterate the recommendations of the Clinical Services Advisory Group calling for closer links between local pain and primary care services;
	(6)  what action will be taken by his Department in the light of the Dr. Foster and Pain Society report, "Adult Chronic Pain Management Services in the UK".

John Hutton: The Clinical Standards Advisory Group report showed that many national health service trusts had developed excellent services, but in some places more needed to be done to drive up standards. The report made recommendations to commissioners and trusts to review local provision of pain services, and how these might be improved. The Department welcomed the report, and expects commissioners and trusts to take these recommendations into account when they plan their service so that variations in provision is reduced and links with primary care trusts improved.
	The Department encourages openness in the use of NHS performance information and welcomes independent scrutiny of this information, such as the Dr. Foster and Pain Society report on "Adult Chronic Pain Management Services in the UK". We are committed to making NHS performance information widely available to patients, carers and the public in an accessible and readily understandable format.
	The Department has no plans to review the provision of pain services in the NHS or to reissue the Clinical Standards Advisory Group Report. The quality of the service should be monitored locally through the trust, primary care trust commissioners and strategic health authorities to ensure it is provided to meet the needs of the local population.

Patient Organisations

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the omission of (a) community health councils and (b) patient forums from the list of patient organisations who were sent the consultation document, "Choice, Responsiveness and Equity".

John Hutton: The consultation document referred to was a resource pack developed specifically for strategic health authorities (SHAs) and voluntary organisations to support them in leading local consultations. It was not sent directly to community health councils (CHCs) as SHAs were responsible for involving CHCs in the local health community's contribution to the consultation. Patient and public involvement forums were not established until after the consultation period closed and therefore could not be consulted.
	The resource document was openly available online or through the NHS Response Line.

Patients' Forums

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there was a fully contracted local network provider in place for each patients' forum on 2 December.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 8 December 2003
	Yes. On 2 December there was a fully contracted local network provider, now known as a forum support organisation, in place for each patients' forum.

Patients' Forums

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time staff in local network providers were working exclusively on behalf of patients' forums on 2 December.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 8 December 2003
	It is not possible to give an absolute staffing figure as some staff are employed exclusively to support the patients' forums while others perform additional functions within their organisation. Since the contracts were awarded in September to the forum support organisations, which were formerly known as local network providers, the organisations have been working to recruit staff and build their capacity, ensuring sufficient support for patients' forums was in place from 1 December. Organisations which have been drawn from the not for profit and voluntary sector will continue to build their resources and to respond effectively to demands as they arise from the patients' forums.

Patients' Forums

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients' forums were fully operational on 2 December; and if he will list those that were not.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 8 December 2003
	On 2 December, the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) had received over 5,000 applications from members of the public volunteering to become members of the 572 patients' forums. At that point 505 forums, over 88 per cent., had the required minimum number of members. However, the position is changing daily as CPPIH continues to process the huge numbers of applicants and make final appointments.
	Since 1 September, CPPIH has had in place regional centres and forum support organisations to provide information and guidance to members of the public who may wish to get involved or who have concerns that need addressing locally.
	Training of forum members is currently underway and forums will be fully operational shortly. In the meantime all forums are contactable through the forum support organisations.

Patients' Forums

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether each patients' forum had the required minimum of members on 2 December; and if he will list those that did not.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 8 December 2003
	On 2 December, the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH) had received over 5,000 applications from members of the public volunteering to become members of the 572 patients forums. At that point 505 forums had the required minimum number of members. However, the position is changing daily as CPPIH continues to process the huge numbers of applicants and make final appointments.
	At 2 December, 100 per cent. targets had been reached in the East Midlands, the North East, North West and West Midlands. In the East of England the Commission required 44 appointments to fill specific forums; in Humberside 10 people; in the South East 61; London 17; and the South West 29.

Patients' Forums

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (a) the location of each patients' forum's associated local network provider and (b) those patients' forums for which no contracted local network provider was in place on 2 December.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 8 December 2003
	By 1 September, 140 contracts had been placed with 68 different local network providers (now known as forum support organisations), providing full national coverage of support for all forums as they come on stream from 1 December. Patients' forums have been set up for primary care trusts and national health service trusts and a list of these by forum support organisation is available from the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health.

Radiation Workers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer from the Secretary of State for Defence on 1 December 2003, Official Report, column 39W, if he will make it his policy to (a) offer annual medical examinations to retired or ex-radiation workers and (b) to amend the guidelines to medical professionals to encourage them to note the profession of radiation workers in the medical notes of their families.

Melanie Johnson: The Ionising Radiation Regulations provides for an appointed doctor to undertake pre-employment health checks, reviews of health at least once a year while in work, and a review of health when the employment has ceased where this is necessary to protect the health of the individual.
	Authoritative scientific and medical opinion is that health checks for all persons with past employment in the radiation industry would, in most cases, be both clinically inappropriate and a diversion of valuable clinical time away from patients with known needs; unless the person indicates symptoms of disease, or the general practitioner has been informed by the appointed doctor of the special circumstances leading to a possible need for continuing surveillance.
	The content of patient records is essentially a matter for the clinical judgment of the practitioner, taking account of guidance from his or her professional body and all of the circumstances. However, in addition to a general obligation to render to patients all necessary and appropriate personal medical services—including offering to patients consultations and, where appropriate, physical examinations for the purposes of identifying, or reducing the risk of, disease or injury—general practitioners in the national health service are required to seek and record relevant information about patients' and patients' families medical history as well as social factors (including housing, employment, and family circumstances) that may affect patients' health.

Research Projects

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research projects will be conducted in response to the findings of the national consultation on how best to improve choice, responsiveness and equity in the national health service and social care; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: On 9 December 2003 the Government published "Building on the Best: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS". This strategy document sets out action on how we intend to expand choice for service users. A copy of the document in available in the Library. We are now considering with the national health service and partner organisations how further research might help inform future action.

Research Projects

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the findings of the national consultation on how best to improve choice, responsiveness and equity in the national health service and social care; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: On 9 December 2003, the Government published a strategy paper "Building on the Best; Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS", which draws out and develops the main themes that emerged from the Choice, Responsiveness and Equity consultation. The document broadly sets out how we will make NHS services more responsive to patients, by offering more choice across the spectrum of healthcare. A copy is available in the Library.

Sexual Health

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reasons are for the exclusion of sexually transmitted infections from the new general practitioner contract; whether all GPs will (a) examine and (b) treat patients suffering from a sexually transmitted infection; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: No disease is excluded under the new general medical services contract. All practices will provide essential services, which provide for the management and on-going treatment and care of patients who are ill, or believe themselves to be ill. Practices will continue to offer consultations and, where appropriate, physical examination for the purpose of identifying the need, if any, for treatment or further investigation.

Sperm Donors

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has to change arrangements for anonymity of sperm donors;
	(2)  what plans he has to give a right to children produced as a result of donor insemination to know the identity of their parents.

Melanie Johnson: This is a highly sensitive issue for the children born, their parents and their donors. Section 31 (5) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 does not permit donors to be identified retrospectively. We are considering whether to ask Parliament to approve regulations to make identifying information about future donors available on request to donor-conceived people age 18 or older. The Government expect to make a decision on this shortly.

St. Helens Projects

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the capital projects (a) built and (b) being built in connection with health care provision in St. Helens in each year since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: The information is shown in the table.
	
		
			 SHA name Trust name Scheme name Outturn cost(£ million) Funding Start on siteactual/target Finish on siteactual/target 
		
		
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic HA St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust St. Helens and Knowsley Health Community Strategic Redevelopment 284.0 PFI February 2005 December 2010 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic HA St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust Re-provision of Knowsley House 2.77 Public June 2000 August 2001 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic HA St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust Rehabilitation Wards (60 Beds) 5.2 Public (PC21) January 2003 December 2004 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic HA St. Helens PCT NHS LIFT—3rd Tranche 22.0 LIFT — March 2O05 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic HA St. Helens PCT Millennium Centre Phase 3 3.4 Public (PC21) January 2003 December 2003 
		
	
	Source:
	NHS Estates

Tamiflu

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria he is applying to the availability on prescription of Tamiflu as a treatment for influenza.

Melanie Johnson: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends that Tamiflu should not be used for the treatment of influenza in children or adults unless they are considered to be 'at-risk'. Full details of the NICE guidance issued in February 2003 is available on the website www. nice.org.uk.
	The Department is consulting on a proposal to enable other patients not considered to be 'at-risk' to receive Tamiflu from their doctor. The consultation is available at www.doh.gov.uk/tamifluconsultation.

Third Register Review

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the timetable is for the review of the third register; who will conduct the review; and when the report of the review will be published;
	(2)  if he will publish the terms of reference for the review of health visiting.

John Hutton: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has now completed its consultation on the third part of the NMC register, where it is proposed that health visitors will be separately registered.
	A separate review of the nursing, midwifery and health visiting contribution to children at risk is being undertaken by the Chief Nursing Officer (England) (CNO) in the light of the recent Green Paper, "Every Child Matters". The scope and process of the review are set out on the CNO web site at www.doh.gov.uk/cno/cnoreview.htm.

Third Register Review

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ministerial commitments to consult and respect the views of the profession were met during consideration on the review of the third register.

John Hutton: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is required by the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 to consult representatives of any group of persons it considered appropriate including, as it sees fit, representatives of registrants or class of registrant, employers of registrants, users of the services of registrants and persons providing assessing or funding education or training for registrants or prospective registrants.
	In exercising its function, the NMC must have proper regard to the interests of all registrants and prospective registrants and to any differing considerations applying to the professions and to groups within them.
	I am satisfied that the NMC has consulted both appropriately and sufficiently in regard to this review.

Third Register Review

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when and by whom the health visiting profession was consulted regarding the third register; and what the outcome was of the consultation.

John Hutton: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is an independent statutory body and is required to consult representatives of any group of persons it considers appropriate. Further specific information in respect of this is a matter for the NMC.

Top-up Fees

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on meeting charges for university variable top-up fees for student (a) nurses and (b) doctors; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: For the first four years of the standard undergraduate medical course, and for year one of the shorter (4 year) graduate entry course, the Department for Education and Skills' (DfES) means tested arrangements currently apply, whereby students are required to contribute up to £1,125 for fees, depending on parents' or spouses' income.
	For years five and six of the traditional medical undergraduate course, and years two to four of the graduate entry course, the Department of Health/national health service-funded arrangements apply, in which students make no contribution to tuition fees; their liability being met from the Department of Health's multi-professional education and training levy and paid direct to higher education institutions by the NHS Student Grants Unit.
	While the proposals contained in the DfES' White Paper, "The Future of Higher Education", include allowing universities to increase tuition fees, there is as yet no clear indication from the higher education sector of the scope or scale of any increased charges.
	I have already made it clear that we will if necessary take measures to ensure that any increase in the level of tuition fees will not have an adverse impact on the supply, retention, diversity or quality of students undertaking medical training.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on 11 December 2003, Official Report, column 600W.

University of Birmingham Hospital Trust

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what powers funds have been allocated to the University of Birmingham Hospital Trust to consult over its proposal to become an NHS Foundation Trust.

John Hutton: Section 2 of the National Health Service Act 1977 gives the Secretary of State powers to do anything which is calculated to facilitate the discharge of his duty to continue the promotion of a comprehensive health service. Schedule 3, Paragraph 5 A of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 gives the Secretary of State the power to make a payment to a national health service trust. The payments were made under these powers.

Unwanted Pregnancies

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many unwanted pregnancies were terminated in each year since 1986 per 100,000 population.

Melanie Johnson: This information is contained in Table 1 of "Abortion Statistics, England and Wales, 2002" (ISBN 1 84182 782 7). Copies are available in the Library, or on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0323.htm.

Waiting Times

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have waited over 18 months for their operation.

John Hutton: As at 30 September 2003, there were nine patients waiting over 18 months for elective inpatient admission in England.

Waiting Times

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the average waiting time for patients admitted to accident and emergency departments in hospitals in the St. Helens area to be admitted to a ward was in each year since 1992;
	(2)  what the average waiting time for patients admitted to accident and emergency departments in hospitals in the St. Helens area to see a doctor was in each year since 1992.

Melanie Johnson: The information requested is not collected.
	Information on the total time patients spend in accident and emergency departments from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge is collected each quarter from national health service trusts and is routinely published on the Department's website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity/. Printed copies of the information are also available in the Library.

Working Time Directive

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the cost to each NHS trust of the Working Time Directive.

John Hutton: The Working Time Directive (WTD) is an integral part of modernising and improving services. The national health service has been aware of the implications of implementing the WTD for doctors in training since 2000, and planning for it forms part of overall NHS planning. Strategic health authorities are currently ensuring that plans will achieve compliance by 2004.

Working Time Directive

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the change in the number of (a) doctors and (b) nurses needed in each NHS trust as a result of the implementation of the Working Time Directive.

John Hutton: The Department's guidance to the national health service, HSC 2003/001 'Protecting Staff, Delivering Services—Implementing the European Working Time Directive for Doctors in Training', states that while the number of doctors on an individual rota will generally have to increase, trusts should find ways to reduce the number of resident rotas. A number of methods of doing so are being explored in the 20 Working Time Directive (WTD) pilots and several "Hospital at Night" pilots. Thus, the total staffing requirement does not increase substantially as a result of the WTD.
	The NHS is currently developing action plans to achieve compliance with the WTD. As part of this, additional training opportunities will be made available for trusts where the need for a post is agreed by their strategic health authority. This agreement is subject to funding and educational approval being obtained.
	It is for local organisations to determine the level of staff needed to implement the WTD and to deliver a quality service. However, the Department is supporting a programme of work to develop new ways of working for nurses and other professional staff.

Working Time Directive

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of the cost to NHS trusts in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire of the Working Time Directive;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of the overtime needed in NHS trusts in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire arising from the implementation of the Working Time Directive.

Rosie Winterton: The Working Time Directive is an integral part of modernising and improving services. The national health service has been aware of the implications of implementing the Working Time Directive for doctors in training since 2000, and planning for it forms part of overall NHS planning.
	Strategic health authorities are currently ensuring that plans will achieve compliance by 2004.

Working Time Directive

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the change in the number of (a) doctors and (b) nurses needed in (i) Chesham and Amersham and (ii) Buckinghamshire as a result of the implementation of the Working Time Directive.

Rosie Winterton: The Department's guidance to the national health service—Health Service Circular 2003/001 'Protecting Staff, Delivering Services—Implementing the European Working Time Directive for Doctors in Training' states that while the number of doctors on an individual rota will generally have to increase, trusts should find ways to reduce the number of resident rotas. A number of methods of doing so are being explored in the 20 Working Time Directive (WTD) pilots and several hospital at night pilots. Thus the total staffing requirement does not increase substantially as a result of the WTD.
	Strategic health authorities are ensuring that trust plans will deliver compliance. Priority will be given to trusts facing WTD challenges in the allocation of an additional 1,500 locally funded specialist registrars training opportunities, subject to educational approval being obtained.
	It is for local organisations to determine the level of staff needed to implement the WTD and to deliver a quality service. However, the Department is supporting a programme of work to develop new ways of working for nurses and other professional staff.